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Gardai refuse to search known CIA rendition plane at Shannon

category international | crime and justice | news report author Tuesday October 30, 2007 15:26author by Edward Horgan - PANA Report this post to the editors

N475LC CI A Torture Plane refuelled with impunity at Shannon 30 Oct 07

The arrival of CIA torture rendition plane N475LC at Shannon at about 1.20 am this morning was witnessed by Edward Horgan, Conor Cregan, and Garda Pat Harte and Garda Karen Fitzgerald, who were watching Cregan and Horgan at the time. Immediate requests for this plane to be searched were immediatly refused.

Photos of this aircraft taken at Shannon can be found at this web address:
http://www.jetphotos.net/showphotos.php?regsearch=N475LC,
A google search on N475LC will show up all the information the Gardai need to justify carrying out a search on this plane.

The following is a copy of the Statement of complaint and request for search of aircraft made by Edward Horgan at Shannon Garda Station at 02.43 am on Tuesday 30 October 2007.

My name is Edward Horgan of Newtown, Castletroy, Limerick. I am a researcher at the University of Limerick. On the 30/10/07 I was at the north side of Shannon airport with Conor Cregan at about 01.20. I observed a GulfStream VI aircraft coming in to land registration number N475LC. I am aware that this aircraft has been used on several occasions to transport prisoners for torture and I am aware that this has been confirmed by the European Parliament and by the Council of Europe. At about 01.25 am I made a request to Garda Pat Harte and Garda Fitzgerald to have this plane searched and also to pass this request on to the Station Sergeant at Shannon Garda Station. I explained that I wanted the plane searched under the European (should read UN) Convention Against Torture and I informed him of its CIA history. I then drove with Conor Cregan to the south side of the airport, and conformed that this aircraft was parked close to the terminal building. We drove to the arrivals area and requested a meeting with the airport duty manager. There was a delay of at least twenty minutes before we met the duty manager Pat Foley. I repeated my request to Mr Foley to have this aircraft searched and he informed me that the aircraft had already left the airport.
It is my belief that the delay in Mr Foley meeting us was intended to avoid having the search the aircraft. In my opinion the aircraft was at Shannon airport for at least 45 minutes after we made our request to Garda Harte and Garda Fitzgerald to have the aircraft searched. When I spoke to Garda Fitzgerald outside the terminal building while waiting to meet the duty manager she informed me that they could not search the aircraft because they had instructions from the Attorney General not to search such aircraft. I have reason to believe that this aircraft and other CIA controlled aircraft including aircraft number N478GS also controlled by the CIA had been regular visitors to Shannon airport in recent times and are likely to return in the near future. I request that these two aircraft in particular be searched every time they visit Shannon airport for the purpose of complying with the European (should read UN) Convention Against Torture. It is my form belief that the Gardai at Shannon airport and the airport authorities were in breach of the UN Convention Against Torture because of their failure to search Gulf Stream aircraft number N475LC. I now hand in a print of a photograph of this aircraft taken recently by Mr Trevor Mulkerrins at Shannon airport. I’m handing in this photograph so that the Gardai can clearly identify this aircraft when it arrives in Shannon again. I have read over this statement and it is correct. I have been invited to make any additions or alterations.
At present there is also an Evergreen International at the airport which may be carrying weapons and munitions contrary to the Hague Convention on Neutrality. I request that this aircraft be searched tonight before it leaves the airport. I do not wish to make any further alterations to this statement.
Signed: Edward Horgan
Witnessed: Edward Henderson Garda 33025F

Please note that legal consultation are already taking place with a view to taking legal action to protect the human rights of any prisoners who may be transported through Shannon airport on this or similar rendition aircraft.

The following is an indymedia report on a previous visit by N475LC to Shannon:

CIA rendition plane N475LC at Shannon??
by Edward Horgan - many Mon Apr 24, 2006 12:19

It is good to see some Irish/American support comming in. Thanks Siobhán

On Saturday 22 April, while on my way back from the European Parliament at Brussels, I landed at Shannon airport at 4.30 pm. I observed a Gulfstream executive jet, parked at the airport, in the special secure area, and protected by Irish army troops. It was plain white in colour. I now have reason to believe that this was Gulfstream VI CIA controlled Jet registration number N475LC, one of the CIA Aircraft the flight logs of which I had submitted to the EU Parliament enquiry as having landed at Shannon and several other European airports. As I did not have binoculars with me I was unable to establish its exact number, but I have since received information that CIA plane N475LC was in fact due to land at Shannon the previous evening. Any confirmation that the aircraft on Saturday was N475LC would be welcome.
As I got off my Ryanair flight I took a few photos of this aircraft from a distance, and will publish these later.
When I got into the terminal building, I went to the Viewing gallery, and took some more photos. I was then challenged by AP inspector Michael Hogan, who ordered me to leave the airport. I refused and spent a further 45 minutes at the airport and took several more photos while he was watching. I informed him that I was photographing a CIA Aircraft.
After I left the airport I went to the Garda Station at Shannon and requested that this particular aircraft be searched as I suspected it may be carrying prisoners.

Related Link: http://www.indymedia.ie/article/75590
author by publication date Tue Oct 30, 2007 17:02Report this post to the editors

CIA landing @ SNN
CIA landing @ SNN

CIA refueling @ SNN
CIA refueling @ SNN

author by Maura Harrington - S2S; Davitt Leaguepublication date Tue Oct 30, 2007 17:24Report this post to the editors


Meanwhile you have the so-called guardians of the peace crawling through the bogs in north Mayo doing Shell's bidding.

New supt in Belmullet, John Gilligan crawled through mud to arrest?? Solidarity Camp member; just now released from custody - no charge.

Member in charge of Belmullet Station, Liam O'Riordan, at first refused to confirm that they were holding this person; quickly changed tune to say 'Yes, we have him'.

Refusal to act in Shannon, acting for Shell in north Mayo ... it's a rotten little country.

author by googler.publication date Tue Oct 30, 2007 18:18Report this post to the editors

In the Washington Post, a former admin official tries to dispel the "myths" about Rendition by confusing the renditions prior to 9-11 with the EXTRAORDINARY renditions carried out afterwards.
Who complained when the suspects of the 93 WTC bombing were snatched and ended up in a court? Not many people. They got lawyers, food, and their human rights. The FBI (a federal police force) were involved rather than the whole thing being a CIA operation.
Daniel Benjamin ( a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution,
served on the National Security Council staff from 1994 to 1999.) makes no distinction between that, and snatching people who were dragged to a Syrian torture hole, no judges, no evidence, no justice.

Comparing the snatching of fugitives, (like the guy who machine gunned CIA employees arriving at the office) and people like Maher Arar, and Khaled el Masri (innocent men who wouldn't suspect anybody was tracking them) is extremely dishonest.
Mr. Benjamin defends what is an obvious crossing of the line.

Meanwhile, in another publication, discussing the recent movie "Rendition" (- loosely based on the rendition of Maher Arar.) the writer puts forward an opinion from someone more closely connected than Mr. Benjamin.

The retired CIA official who [was in charge of the programme] has become highly skeptical about the value of what he calls "all this paramilitary stuff."
"We never got any good (intelligence) product from a rendition," he says now.

Plenty of whitewash in Washington, and plenty of 'see no evil' in official Ireland. Thanks to the Shannon Planespotters for seeing what others don't want us to know about.

author by googlerpublication date Tue Oct 30, 2007 18:25Report this post to the editors

Human rights groups urge Scottish Executive to probe transport of terror suspects for torture

Paul Kelbie
Sunday October 28, 2007
The Observer

Human rights campaigners will press the Scottish government to agree on a policy not to transport terror suspects for torture through its airports.

A dossier of evidence detailing the role of Scottish airports in so-called 'rendition' flights, compiled by human rights organisations, has been passed to the Crown Office for investigation. The report claims that British airports have been secretly used by the CIA to 'render' Islamist terror suspects to secret prisons in states where they could be tortured.

read the rest at the link :
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/terrorism/story/0,,2200812,00.html

author by Guypublication date Tue Oct 30, 2007 21:47Report this post to the editors

Aircraft ID N475LC
Aircraft Type GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE G-IV
Owner/Operator L 3 IS LLC
300 CENTRAL AVE FL 7 US BANK BLDG
GREAT FALLS MONTANA

Serial Number 1472
Year Manufactured 2002
Certificate Issued 06/21/2006

http://www.l-3com.com/fi/

http://members.aol.com/softlabhennef/cia_flights/cia_2006.htm

http://www.planepictures.net/netshow.php?id=413595

Related Link: http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNumSQL.asp?NNumbertxt=475LC&cmndfind.x=0&cmndfind.y=0
author by Justin Morahanpublication date Tue Oct 30, 2007 22:09Report this post to the editors

Well done Ed and Conor. Thanks for all your work and for the report, highlighting the servile compliance of our Government with alleged torture and rendition by George W Bush's USA..

Our "leaders", disgraced since they ended our neutrality by allowing war troops to use Shannon airport for an abominable war against Iraq, continue to act disgracefully.

First they pretended that there were no troops going through Shannon. Then, when the cameras revealed the troops were indeed there, they shamefacedly hid behind the lie that Saddam Hussein was somehow responsible for the attack on the Twin Towers, that he had, in George W Bush's words "weapons of mass destruction" and was therefore a threat to the USA. On these spurious grounds they trampled on our neutrality and made us complicit in all of Mr Bush's atrocities. They rushed legislation through the Dáil and Senate to make retrospectively legal their own cowardly illegal cooperation with the war. They have never apologized.

When you, along with Tim and Fiona and others, kept watch for the nation and found that rendition planes were also using Shannon, they (our Government) again denied it - and when the proof became evident, they refused to search the planes. Waffle appears to be the Government's response to every allegation of wrongdoing on their part.

Now they are refusing to search these rendition/torture planes again, not openly like people with the courage of their convictions, but through delays and subterfuge, always fearful of showing disrespect to their chosen masters. To them they show a craven, apologetic attitude.

Even the Green Party who were so vociferous about all of these wrongdoings while they were out of Government have now sold out on the issue of Shannon's war troops and rendition planes (as well as on other most serious matters) They have joined the very people whose actions they rightly denounced and have sheltered beneath the shiny, gaudy canopy of a perfidious, slithery party whose forte and main interests coincide in simply hanging on to power over others.

What a sad State we live in. Uriah Heep would have felt very much at home here, especially at the Cabinet table.

author by Seán Ryanpublication date Tue Oct 30, 2007 22:23Report this post to the editors

It is a disgrace that these planes are not searched. The Greens having sold everything to get into power supposedly secured a concession from FF that planes would be searched.

One of my fears about all of this is that the Greens will suddenly announce that the CIA planes will be searched at random and that they have lived up to their responsibilities. If this happens we will be told to shut up as we've gotten what we asked for.

If the planes land in Ireland they should be searched, that's a given. I think that those who are not directly connected to the various anti-war movements may be fooled into thinking that searching these planes is our prime objective. It is not. We do not wan't a foreign spy network that is connected with genocide on a global scale landing in our country period. Neither do we want to facilitate troops of the same nation, who are on their way to participate in an unlawful occupation of a once sovereign nation, in order to ensure that its resources and future are stolen.

Keep up the great work Ed and thanks for keeping us informed.

author by Edward Horganpublication date Tue Oct 30, 2007 23:09Report this post to the editors

Urgent help is needed at Shannon to monitor US military and CIA planes.
We need weekly protests each Saturday at 2 pm. Even if only one or two people turn up, that can be very significant.
Bring a megaphone, the silence at Shannon is deafening.
Go right up into the terminal building and inform all the airport users how the airport is being abused, or more importantly, how prisoners are being tortured and innocent people being killed in Iraq.
We have had enough of "why doesn't someone do something" Dont wait to be asked to attend a protest at Shannon - organise your own protest. Let each sat from now on be a protest event at Shannon. Be creative and unpredictable.
We also need over night camping protests.
Most of the CIA planes are comming during the hours of darkness. This suits their murky business.
I will help any group even at very short notice that wants to organise a protest at Shannon.
We also need help from the workers at Shannon.
The example of the Dunes Stores workers who led a boycott of South African goods in protest against the Apartheid regime should be repeated at Shannon.
There must be an immediate boycott of OMNI Air, ATA, the two main US troop carriers through Shannon. CIA planes must not be services or refueled at Shannon.
Lets stop all this waffle about what someone else must do at Shannon and come to Shannon in small numbers or large and engage in positive peaceful protest.

It was far too late to protest against the Holocaust in 1945.
We must all do something, do anything, to prevent the evil that is being perpetrated at Shannon in our name, while that evil is still going on.

author by Ciaron - Catholic Workerpublication date Wed Oct 31, 2007 08:22author address passing through DublinReport this post to the editors

I think a weekly anti-war presence at Shannon would be most significant.

In Australia we have managed to sustain a weekly presence at Enoggera Army Base for the last 6 months. Troops are deployed from Enoggera to Iraq and Afghanistan. Two weeks ago a soldier from Enoggera (father of two) was killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan.

From a pool of 12 folks we rarely numerically drop below 5 folks at the vigil. It has created a creative tension which would not have been there. This war has never been popular anywhere - it gives folks an opportunity to express their opposition by honking their horns today, hopefully supporting resisting soldiers tomorrow. Soldiers returning from Iraq and Afdghanistan have taken the opprotunity to approach us and reflect on the issues.

Every 6 weeks we have an afternoon of reflection to consider what we have learnt from the vigil, how to improve it and how to deepen our resistance to this war. Most of our crew are in their 40's & 50's, have kidz and jobs. Many of us have taken NVDA against war making in the past. We are mostly but not exclusively radical Catholics and the vigil is a significant opportunity to practise and consider our faith

I think anyone who is seriously opposed to this war should be standing publicly in opposition with a sign at least for an hour a week, outside a military base, government building, in the high st. on campus, outside an electoral or corporate office. With so many U.S. tourists and military passing through Shannon it sound like an ideal spot to take a stand against this war.

Here's some photos of our anti-war vigil at Enoggera
......
http://sydney.indymedia.org.au/story/brisbane-anti-war-activists-continue-oppose-aust-military-deployment-iraq-and-afghanistan-0

author by softlabhennefpublication date Wed Oct 31, 2007 11:53Report this post to the editors

L3 Is LLC seemes to be linked with a lawyer firm named "Jardine, Stephenson, Blewett & Weaver, P.C." (same address)
http://www.jardinelaw.com/

Registered agent: GARY W BJELLAND
http://www.veromi.net/Summary.asp?fn=GARY&mn=G&ln=BJELLAND&dobmm=&dobdd=&doby=&city=&state=MT&age=&vw=&Search=&Input=&x=63&y=9

Associated Businesses:
http://www.veromi.net/Summary.asp?ln=l-3&vw=Business&Search=Business&Input=Business&Image1.x=62&Image1.y=13&city=&state=MT

N475LC was also seen in Glasgow (11-08-2007):
http://slleftunity.blogspot.com/2007/08/possible-rendition-aircraft-called-at.html

More news about miscellaneous CIA planes:
http://worldcontent.twoday.net/topics/CIA+Flights/

author by Guypublication date Wed Oct 31, 2007 14:11Report this post to the editors

The owner of the plane gives a useful insight into the type of peole the CIA are making rich by providing torture transport. This guy has fingers in every pie from childcare to ranching to development. This is America. The same ole bosses running the same ole show, this time in the name of democracy. There is big money in war and democracy but then there always was.

http://www.veromi.net/Summary.asp?ln=l-3&vw=Business&Search=Business&Input=Business&Image1.x=62&Image1.y=13&city=&state=MT

fatcat.jpg

author by softlabhennefpublication date Wed Oct 31, 2007 16:01Report this post to the editors

L3 - Communication run also a private intelligence agency which is financed by US-Government and is still operating in Iraq (ISS-I)

http://worldcontent.twoday.net/stories/4147642/

http://www.intelligencecareers.com/jobs/jobview.cfm?jobid=553371

L-3 is a company with revenues estimated at $12.5 Billion and with over 60,000 employees. L-3 is a leading supplier of communications and specialized products and services to the US Department of Defense, intelligence agencies, federal civilian agencies, state and local governments, foreign governments, and major aerospace and defense prime contractors.

L-3 has Government Contracts about $5,373,901,539 in Fiscal Year 2006
http://www.fedspending.org/fpds/tables.php?tabtype=t2&subtype=t&year=2006

author by Edward Horganpublication date Wed Oct 31, 2007 16:26Report this post to the editors

In favour of a weekly vigil at Shannon
by Ciaron - Catholic Worker Wed Oct 31, 2007 08:22 passing through Dublin
I think a weekly anti-war presence at Shannon would be most significant.

Thanks for your support Ciaron.
OK, then, lets do it.
As from the comming Saturday November 3rd there will be weekly vigil at Shannon airport at about 2 PM, or anytime, at the terminal building or anywhere at Shannon, participants will include you and me, or anyone who still cares. Bring a banner, megaphone, whistle, or whatever. Do whatever you feel is appropriate to oppose war, but whatever you do, dont do nothing, and dont remain silent, or complicit.
Lets make sure also that there are brief vigils at Shannon on Christmas Day, New Years Day and Women's Christmas 6th January.
Edward

author by Maura Harrington - S2S; Davitt Leaguepublication date Thu Nov 01, 2007 15:47Report this post to the editors


I salute and support the work done by Edward, Tim and all others in another long fight to 'reclaim the integrity of our democracy'.

As you are aware, it will not be possible in the forseeable future for too many from Erris, north Mayo, to join you in person at Shannon.

We are, however, doing our bit to fight the greed of Big Oil and its facilitation by this and previous flaccid governments.

In solidarity, Maura Harrington

author by W. Finnerty.publication date Thu Nov 01, 2007 17:19Report this post to the editors

The whole lot of them, i.e. our "public servants" (so called), are breaking the law in MAJOR ways all over the place - Shannon Airport included I very strongly suspect.

It seems to me that it's well time now that the State was sued by somebody (or some group) for the "wrongful acts" of it's public servants: as is now very firmly established legal precedent in the Republic of Ireland (see http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Wrongful+Acts+Public+Servants+Ireland&btnG=Google+Search ).

I had a try myself some time ago to sue the State regarding the ongoing legal abuse I'm being subjected to; but, as I have explained to our chief Justice John L. Murray last August (by registered post), Solicitors Hogan & Co. (Ballinasloe, County Galway), are failing to reply to my letter to them dated April 3rd 2007.

Now, and to put the "icing on the ever growing CAKE OF CORRUPTION" as I sometimes think of it, our Chief Justice Murray is ALSO failing to reply to the registered letter I sent to him on August 28th last (copy at http://www.europeancourtofhumanrightswilliamfinnerty.com/ChiefJusticeMurray/28August2007/Letter.htm ).

I've long appreciated the protests (and the protestors) at Shannon, and I continue to do so. However, unless something of real significance is done about the systemic corruption in our legal profession, I don't believe protests on their own will "stop all the rot" connected with the ongoing use - or ABUSE much more like - of Shannon Airport in relation to supporting the UNLAWFUL invasion of Iraq in 2003 by US President George W. Bush and UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Related Link: http://www.europeancourtofhumanrightswilliamfinnerty.com/
author by Observerpublication date Thu Nov 01, 2007 18:10Report this post to the editors

In reply to William's post, in order to sue the State for the wrongful acts of its organs or servants you would have to demonstrate the requisite locus in order to be in a position to launch your proceedings. The problem with the possible ongoing transfer of persons through Shannon is that you would , in all probability, have to find someone so rendered and prove they were rendered through Shannon. As it is done in secret, that it is a pretty tall order.

It is also true to say that though the State may be breaching its obligations under international treaty (this has been pointed out by various orginisations), we, here in Ireland, have what's called a "dualist" legal system whereby you cannot litigate for breaches of our international convention rights through the Irish courts unless and until the various treaties are domestically incorporated, like the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundimental Freedoms, but even there you would be back to the "locus" issue.

author by Observerpublication date Thu Nov 01, 2007 18:24Report this post to the editors

Can I also point out that the case indicated by William, Byrne V Ireland, is not precedent for suing the State in circumstances were you are NOT the actual victim of the alleged wrongdoing. The Byrne case allowed someone who had fell down a hole to sue the state (who were laying pipes and did a bad patch job thus creating the hole) whreas previously the State had been immune from suit. This immunity from suit was a carry-over from British rule where the Crown could not be sued. You still have to demonstrate sufficient interest in the case in order to prosecute it.

People should be careful that they do not get the wrong impression from some posts. As the saying goes, "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing"!

author by Edward Horganpublication date Thu Nov 01, 2007 19:56Report this post to the editors

While legal options are being actively considered at present on the abuses being perpetrated and/or faciliated by the state at Shannon airport, we must also take practical steps to both highlight and protest at what is going on.

We need less waffle and more practical action.

We need specific individuals, that is you, to make committments to come to Shannon, next Sat 3 Nov 07, or any other Sat at about 2 pm to make your own protest and find out for yourself what is going on. Dont take my word for it.
Email me at edward_horgan@hotmail.com if you have the courage and committment to come to Shannon.

Just for the record also, I have just been informed that the CIA plane N475LC that we flushed out being refuelled at Shannon very early on Tuesday morning last (30 Oct 07) has now returned to the US, but this time, they avoided Shannon and returned via Glascow airport going on to Bangor Maine USA early this morning (1 Nov 07).
Were they bringing a prisoner back to the US/Guantanamo and considered Shannon too unfriendly a refueling point??

author by Contrarianpublication date Fri Nov 02, 2007 00:08Report this post to the editors

So: "flushed out" eh? A bit OTT, Edward, don't you think? I mean you could say that you "saw" it, "observed" it, "noted" it or "spotted" it. That would be accurate. But "flushed out" implies you took some action against it thereby causing it to change its behaviour and come to light when otherwise it would have gone hidden and undetected. You didn't. You saw an aircraft with its registration number prominently displayed land openly at a prominent civilian airport making no effort whatsoever to conceal its identity. It taxied to the terminal building refuelled and took off again. Wow.

author by square eyespublication date Fri Nov 02, 2007 10:35Report this post to the editors



att: Contrarian: Pls stop your fussing over semantics.

Well done to Ed, Connor, Tim and co.
Armed with nothing more than binoculars, notebooks and remarkable tenacity you have sustained brilliant work. Much respect.

Did any of ye see "Taxi to the Dark Side" a documentary on tv last week -it was part of the Why Democracy series? Its a film that looks at the US government, democracy, torture, human rights and rendition. I think its worth a watch and makes one feel even more outraged at the planes landing everyday and night totally unchecked at a small civilian airport in County Clare called Shannon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WX0MPcN08Zc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peCpI9E0XAs

Related Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRogSqsrqww
author by W. Finnerty.publication date Fri Nov 02, 2007 12:02Report this post to the editors

Personally, I feel the MOST practical thing that could be done, at this stage, would be to take legal action.

It seems to me that there comes a point when protesting cannot be a substitute for legal action, particularly if the number of people protesting are too few to seriously influence election results: as appears (possibly?) to be the case regarding the Shannon Airport issue.

However, I realise (from my own direct experience) that our grossly corrupt legal profession will block all legal proceedings which don't suit them, and that they have no qualms whatsoever about acting unlawfully if needs be to achieve their ends: which is EXACTLY what they are doing in my particular case.

IT IS THIS MAJOR CORRUPTION PROBLEM IN OUR LEGAL PROFESSION WHICH NOW NEEDS TO BE URGENTLY ADDRESSED IN MY VIEW: if the sovereignty of our State is to remain intact (in practice).

There is no doubt whatsoever in my mind that I am being subjected to torture of an EXTREMELY nasty kind, and I have pointed this out to Chief Justice Murray, and Prime Minister Ahern, in the registered letters I sent to them on December 12th 2006 (copy at http://www.europeancourtofhumanrightswilliamfinnerty.com/PrimeMinisterAhern12December2006/Letter.htm ).

All I get in response from Chief Justice Murray and Prime Minister Ahern is "the silent treatment" - which is widely recognised as a form of bullying (i.e. PSYCHOLOGICAL TORTURE), and which in my case actually seriously aggravates the C-PTSD medical condition they have both been informed about on a number of occasions. (Copy of medical doctor's "To Whom It May Concern" letter - NOW OVER TWO YEARS OLD - available at http://www.europeancourtofhumanrightswilliamfinnerty.com/DrMcCavert28October2005/Letter.htm )

Please note that I AM the victim (in my particular legal case), and that I am NOT seeking justice on any other person's behalf - though I do believe that if I personally was to receive justice on my own behalf, it is likely that others would benefit, as is normal in such human rights cases.

One last point: while I would welcome legal advise regarding my particular case, on this or any other Indymedia thread, I would need to know the full, real name of the person who is giving it: for reasons which I feel should be VERY obvious.

Related Link: http://www.constitutionofireland.com/
author by Edward Horganpublication date Fri Nov 02, 2007 16:25Report this post to the editors

Torture is a most Heinous Crime, and is defined by the UN Convention Against Torture as follows:
“For the purposes of this Convention, torture means any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information or a confession, punishing him for an act he or a third person has committed or is suspected of having committed, or intimidating or coercing him or a third person, or for any reason based on discrimination of any kind, when such pain or suffering is inflicted by or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official or other person acting in an official capacity. It does not include pain or suffering arising only from, inherent in or incidental to lawful sanctions.”

Torture as so defined is regarded as being more serious even than murder. While I realise that William Finerty has suffered injustices, which he describes above, to describe these injustices as torture runs the risk of de-emphasising the suffering deliberately inflicted on helpless and often completely innocent people. I also feel it is inaccurate and wrong to describe the Irish legal profession as “our grossly corrupt legal profession”. Like all professions, and all sections of humanity, there are some corrupt people in the legal profession. However, I have met many in the Irish legal profession who are both honest and honourable.
This particular posting on Indymedia is intended to highlight the actual physical and psychological torture being inflicted on prisoners as a result of the US orchestrated rendition programme. It is counter-productive to use a topic like this to address more personal injustices suffered by individuals in a very different context.

All those who recommend doing nothing about the use of Shannon airport for torture rendition should continue to do nothing, but don’t put off those who feel that they should take protest or legal actions to oppose such heinous behaviour.
I still await volunteers to participate in a protest at Shannon airport this Sat 3 Oct at 2 pm and every other Saturday from now on.
Is there no one who can afford to spend one hour on behalf of tortured prisoners?

author by anonpublication date Sun Nov 04, 2007 11:10Report this post to the editors

Manning attacks rendition record Adam Harvey
http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/ireland/2007/1101/1193444293032.html

Dr Maurice Manning said he was "hugely infuriated" by the Government's attitude towards allowing rendition in Ireland. He said if the Government was not sensible, a "bloody" fight on the subject would ensue.
"We have no evidence that Shannon airport is being used, but there is strong reason to believe it is happening," said Dr Manning. "The Government I think is out of touch with Irish public opinion on the matter,"
"We have a report on rendition due out in four weeks' time and already we're feeling a little bit of pressure to go easy, which we won't do. It's very foolish for people to put pressure, because it is more likely to make you stubborn."

Still years later since this came to light I will hold my breath for this 'bloody' fight from the IHRC, whether there proof that any prisoners were on the planes, the planes were here with pilots and CIA 'agents', these people need to detained and questioned about kidnap and torture.

Amnesty Ireland calls for closure of Guant ánamo Bay
http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/ireland/2007/1101/1193444282475.html

Also Ahern got a reminder of those opposed to war profiteering in at least two places on his business trip to Derry on 2nd November.

mention here, some footage shown on tv3
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/war-protesters-heckle-ahern-as-city-reaps-peace-dividend-1210390.html

http://www.raytheon9.org/ any update? http://www.blackshamrock.org/

author by Edwardpublication date Sun Nov 04, 2007 17:41Report this post to the editors

Thanks for the update AWI. We need your support and presence at Shannon over the comming weeks.

author by W. Finnertypublication date Sun Nov 04, 2007 20:10Report this post to the editors

A backup copy of my reply (of last Friday) to Edward Horgan's comments at the "Fri Nov 02, 2007 16:25" slot above can be viewed at http://www.europeancourtofhumanrightswilliamfinnerty.com/BACKUP/Indy2Nov2007/Post.htm#comment211240

Related Link: http://www.europeancourtofhumanrightswilliamfinnerty.com/
author by W. Finnerty.publication date Tue Nov 06, 2007 19:48Report this post to the editors

First, a few small samples of the text of this document (which can be viewed in full at http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2000/en/act/pub/0011/print.html ):

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Article 1

1. For the purposes of this Convention, the term “torture” means any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information or a confession, punishing him for an act he or a third person has committed or is suspected of having committed, or intimidating or coercing him or a third person, or for any reason based on discrimination of any kind, when such pain or suffering is inflicted by or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official or other person acting in an official capacity.

Article 2

2. No exceptional circumstances whatsoever, whether a state of war or a threat of war, internal political instability or any other public emergency, may be invoked as a justification of torture.

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Allowing for the few small samples provided above, and for other parts of this particular piece of Republic of Ireland legislation, it seems to me that a number of our senior "public servants" (so called) would need to "watch their step" VERY carefully, and that for some it might already be too late? (Among several other things which should be worrying some people, is the fact that one part of this Act very clearly states: "A person guilty of the offence of torture shall be liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for life.")

Such dangers are particularly real, if for ANY reason our lawyers here in the Republic of Ireland were to do the honourable and genuinely democratic thing, and to follow the example at present being set by their counterparts in Pakistan: who, as many will already know, are at the present time rightfully demanding a return to "constitutional law" (and away from the BOGUS unconstitutional and illegal law of the despots and the plutocrats) - which is EXACTLY the kind of major change-of-direction the Republic of Ireland now also desperately needs (in my view).

Related link: http://www.europeancourtofhumanrightswilliamfinnerty.com/ChiefJusticeMurray/2November2007/Email.htm

author by Willpublication date Wed Nov 07, 2007 12:50Report this post to the editors

So the Government of Eire, the Republic of Ireland, is complicit in kidnapping and torture.
For any Irish person this should be a source of great shame and anger. This is a disgrace to the men and women who gave their lives for this Republic.
The government, after all, is elected by us. We knew this was happening before the last election, yet
many of us re-elected torturers and kidnappers.
Is that a bit strong? I don't think so. These are the same people who lectured us that giving sustenance
and support to homegrown terrorists was to share in their guilt.

author by W. Finnerty.publication date Fri Nov 09, 2007 13:58Report this post to the editors

A further reminder was sent the day before yesterday to our Chief Justice John L. Murray regarding the socially disastrous and dangerous manner in which our legal profession is treating the "European Convention on Human Rights Act 2003" (Republic of Ireland).
 
The e-mail used was copied to Senator Ivana Bacik, who is a practising barrister in the Republic of Ireland.
 
With due regard for the impressive array of information set out in her "profile", at http://www.ivanabacik.com/profile.htm , it seems to me that Ms Bacik is very well qualified, and now very well placed (as a senator), to do something of significance regarding what I see as the extremely important human-rights issue I have raised.
 
In my particular case, the human-rights issue in question includes the heinous use of mental torture: in a manner which is ongoing; which has no end in sight that I know of at the present time; and, which I have absolutely NO CONTROL over. 
 
As some will already know, and as any competent psychologist will confirm I believe, it is the last point mentioned in the paragraph just above, i.e. the total lack of control over the ongoing "silent treatment" form of mental torture that I'm being subjected to, which is what most aggravates and adds to the C-PTSD set of psychological injuries I am being subjected to.
 
A copy of the e-mail, which was also sent to several other lawyers apart from Mr Murray and Ms Bacik, can now be viewed at: http://www.europeancourtofhumanrightswilliamfinnerty.com/ChiefJusticeMurray/7November2007/Email.htm  
 
For anybody interested, Ms Bacik is first on the "CC:" list of the e-mail now on display at the above address.

Related Link: http://www.constitutionofireland.com/
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   BACKUP COPY LOCATED AT: 

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Original Indymedia (Ireland) Location:
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