US Army veterans Ken Mayers and Tarak Kauff; President Michael D Higgins at the New York Library; and Zaidie Mayers speaking to President Higgins in New York
Two US army veterans and members of Veterans For Peace, Ken Mayers and Tarak Kauff, aged 82 and 77, were arrested on St Patrick’s Day at Shannon Airport.
It followed them protesting against the continued use of the airport by the US military.
They’re accused of causing €2,500 worth of criminal damage to the airport’s perimeter fence, as well as unlawfully trespassing into a taxiway.
They’re now awaiting trial and, on Monday, appeared before Ennis District Court, with the court hearing that they’ve sought a transfer of the case from Clare to Dublin.
Their case will be up for mention again on October 29 – when a date for a hearing of the transfer application will be set.
Last week they took part in a ‘Boots On The Ground For Freedom’ walk – in protest against the use of Shannon Airport by the US military.
Further to this…
Yesterday, in New York.
President Michael D Higgins was doing an interview with WYNC, during which Ellen Davidson, wife of Tarek Kauff, rang into the show.
Ms Davidson, who lives in Manhattan but is currently based in Dublin, said:
“I understand President Higgins is a big supporter of Irish neutrality so I’m wondering why the Irish Government is allowing US military flights to go through Shannon Airport in violation of that neutrality, bringing troops to the Middle East, to the wars that cause the refugees he’s been talking about.
“And, also, about the case of two US veterans who did a peaceful protest against those flights in March and they’ve been held in Ireland ever since, without their passports, on very minor charges, for a peaceful protest.”
President Higgins responded:
“Yes, I think that your caller will know these are issues, when I was a member of parliament, I spoke and acted very often. I do think that the issue – the two people whose case I am familiar – is a matter for Government and I will draw the attention of Government to it.
“But you’ll appreciate that as president, I cannot interfere in the executive decisions of Government.”
Meanwhile, also yesterday…
At the New York. Library.
President Higgins took part in an interview with journalist and senior writer at the New York Times Dan Barry.
After the interview finished, Zaidie Mayers, the granddaughter of Mr Mayers, approached President Higgins and raised her granddad’s case.
President Higgins said:
“I’ve read about the two people who were on that walk. I’ll see what I can do.”
Previously: Story Of Why
Thanks Niall Farrell
“But you’ll appreciate that as president, I cannot interfere in the executive decisions of Government”
Remember that time when President Higgins intervened in pay policy for the Defence Forces?
https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/ministers-forced-to-defend-record-on-defence-forces-pay-after-unusual-intervention-by-president-michael-d-higgins-38492191.html
Or that time, when he spoke in support of beef farmers at the Ploughing Championships?
He’s a cute wee hoor, I’ll give him that, but that old, “I must remain above politics” stuff really doesn’t stand up to scrutiny.
Also, BS, what’s the story with the two veterans wanting their case transferred to Dublin. Is there a problem with the local judge at all, who has, a particular history with dealing with protesters at Shannon?
Co. Clare locals are all Trump fan-bouys. You can bet the judge is a right wing conservative. Sure didn’t we all see the muck savages on the telly last year singing the toddler in chief’s praises just because he injected a little cash into their bleak bottom end of nowhere pathetic county.
Speaking about things is not interfering in government decisions. He is saying he hasn’t got the power to make a decision or instruct the government but that he will raise the issue as he has raised other issues in the past.