LAST UPDATE | 14 Oct

TWO-PRO-PALESTINE activists are due in court after breaking into and damaging the offices of a company in Cork city whose parent operation has supplied equipment and technologies to Israel.

In a statement yesterday, Palestine Action Éire said two of its members, a man and woman in their 30s, entered a research and development facility owned by US firm Collins Aerospace at Penrose Wharf, Cork in the early hours of Monday morning.

The group claimed that the pair of protesters damaged windows, walls, and equipment inside the building before hanging a banner from a third-floor balcony.

Actionists target complicit arms development company Collin's Aerospace. Subsidiary of RTX (Raytheon) known for supplying Israel with the bunker busters they used to blow up kids in tents. pic.twitter.com/O8O0jWAABm

— Palestine Action Éire (@pal_action_eire) October 13, 2025

They said the pair then occupied the site in a “lock-on” protest.

Gardaí arrived at the scene, and both activists were later arrested.

They were detained at garda stations in Cork city before being charged.

Both are scheduled to appear before a sitting of the Cork City District Court later this morning.

Collins Aerospace is a subsidiary of RTX Corporation, formerly Raytheon Technologies, one of the world’s largest aerospace and defence companies.

Its Cork branch opened in 2010 and serves as a European research hub focused on commercial aviation technology.

RTX has supplied equipment and technologies to Israel, including components for its air defence system known as the Iron Dome.

The company has previously faced backlash over its ties to Israel.

Pro-Palestinian protests have been held outside the Collins Aerospace site several times over the last two years.

Collins Aerospace’s business includes defence and military but also non-military work in areas like commercial aviation and space.

Asked whether any of the systems or equipment used in Cork contribute to weaponry sold by RTX to Israel, a spokesperson for Collins Aerospace previously told The Echo: “No, nothing from Cork … this is a commercial aerospace business, which is not part of the defence subsidiary, but is part of RTX”.

Palestine Action Éire said the latest protest was carried out in opposition to RTX’s links to Israel’s military.

“After 2 years of genocide, I don’t know what to do any more,” one of the activists said yesterday.

“We’ve marched, petitioned, passed motions at council and union level, asked nicely, asked loudly, occupied spaces, blocked roads, travelled to Egypt and organised flotillas of boats carrying humanitarian aid that have been illegally seized. And nothing has changed.”

Collins Aerospace has been contacted for comment.