THREE PRO-PALESTINIAN ACTIVISTS were today returned for trial to face charges relating to the alleged criminal damage of a US Navy reserve aircraft at Shannon airport last November.

At Ennis District Court, Judge Adrian Harris returned for trial Emily Cathcart of North View, Knocknagin Rd, Balbriggan, Co Dublin with two co-accused, Kaspar Aiden Cantwell Strattra (23) of Manorlands Crescent, Trim, Co Meath, and Conán Kavanagh (23) of New Cabra Rd, Dublin 7 and St Joseph’s Drive, Montenotte, Cork to the next sittings of Ennis Circuit Court.

Judge Harris returned the three for trial after Books of Evidence were served in the case on the three.

All three are facing charges from an incident at the airport on 22 November where members of the Defence Forces tasked to protect a US military aircraft at Shannon airport drew their weapons briefly in response to an alleged airport incursion by the three.

The three are also charged with the criminal damage of the main body of a Boeing 737-700 belonging to the US Navy Reserve and of a Shannon Airport vehicle barrier.

They are also each charged with entering the apron area and Taxi 11 of Shannon airport on 22 November last and causing the closure of the airport.

The court was told by Detective Garda Colm Moriarty in March that after charge and caution, Cathcart (23) said: “By allowing Shannon airport to be used as a transit point for the US military, the Government of Ireland has failed to uphold its duty to prevent genocide under the Genocide Convention making the Irish State complicit in genocide and that is a crime that concerns all Irish citizens made complicit by extension”.

Detective Moriarty said that Kavanagh, after charge and caution, replied: “I maintain that I did not break any laws but acted a peace officer upholding the Irish constitution and Genocide convention.”

Detective Moriarty said that Kaspar Aiden Cantwell Strattra replied “Saoirse don Phalaistín” (“Freedom for Palestine”) after charge and caution before court.

At a contested bail hearing the day after the incident on 23 November last, Moriarty told the court that a US military aircraft parked overnight allegedly sustained criminal damage when spray-painted with green paint from a modified fire extinguisher on top of a modified van in a taxi area on the airfield.

Moriarty said Defence Forces personnel near the US Navy aircraft “had their weapons drawn briefly until the situation was under control”

He said that the airport had to be shut down for 30 minutes and one incoming aircraft was placed in a holding pattern before the airport could reopen.

The three secured bail after their parents posted independent sureties to the court.