Accused had ‘pretty good idea’ she would be arrested
One of the five antiwar protesters accused of criminally damaging a US aeroplane at Shannon Airport has told a jury that she "had a pretty good idea" that she might be arrested.
Nuin Dunlop (aged 34), a US citizen and counsellor living at Rialto Cottages, Rialto, denied that her actions were political and calculated to draw attention to activities at Shannon. She also denied that she and her co-accused had anticipated that they would be brought to trial and looked forward to it.
Ms Dunlop was giving evidence in her own defence on day four of the trial in which five accused have pleaded not guilty to two counts each of causing damage without lawful excuse to a naval plane, property of the US government and to glass door panels, property of Aer Rianta at Shannon Airport, Clare on February 3, 2003.
The accused are Ciaran O’Reilly (aged 46), an Australian national, Damien Moran (aged 26), Ms Fallon (aged 35), a Scottish marine biologist, all of Rialto Cottages, Rialto; Deirdre Clancy (aged 36), a copy editor of Alverno Apartments, Clontarf and Ms Dunlop.
Ms Dunlop told the jury she thought dismantling the plane could save lives and she genuinely believed there were weapons on board the aircraft which would be used to kill people in Iraq.
Under cross examination, she denied a suggestion from Mr Conor Devally SC, prosecuting, that her actions were a "call to arms" to rally people to her cause.
The jury earlier heard a lone garda was on duty in the hangar at 3.45am when five people came running in carrying hammers and an axe or mattock. They were shouting "some words of God" and went to the front, side and rear of the aircraft using the items to hit the plane. They then kneeled in a circle and prayed until gardaí arrived to arrest them.
The jury heard that items including copies of the bible and Koran, rosary and Islamic prayer beads, candles, flowers, St Bridget’s crosses and photographs of distressed children were found at the scene in the form of a shrine at the doors to the hangar.
The hearing continues before Judge Miriam Reynolds and a jury of seven women and five men.
