TD Mick Wallace has been arrested
The 60-year-old is expected at Limerick Prison this afternoon to begin serving a 30-day jail term in lieu of the fine.
United Left TD Clare Daly was also fined €2,000 at the same court appearance earlier this year, she too vowed not to pay it.
Wexford TD Mick Wallace has been arrested by gardai after failing to pay a fine for breaching the grounds of Shannon airport during a protest last year.
Mr Wallace was taken into custody at Clontarf Garda Station earlier today.
He had been fined €2,000 for entering a secure area at the airport last year, during a protest over US authorities using the base as a stopover for missions to the Middle East.
It is understood that Mr Wallace has now been brought to Limerick Prison where he is being held.
A judge at Ennis Court had set a deadline of July for the fine to be paid. The same fine had been applied to Dublin TD Clare Daly who was also involved in the Shannon Airport protest.
Asked at the time if he was prepared to go to prison, Mr Wallace replied:“The decision of myself and Clare Daly to scale the fence at Shannon Airport was designed to help keep the peace, not break it.
"We do not accept the judge's decision to the contrary, and under no circumstances will we pay the fines. We realise this may mean serving time in prison. It's not something we'd look forward to, but if it happens, so be it".
