The trial of US peace activists Kenneth Mayers and Tarak Kauff who are also members of Veterans For Peace began today (onday 25th April) at the Circuit Criminal Court, Parkgate Street, Dublin 8. Both are former members of the US military and Kenneth is a Vietnam War veteran. Kenneth and Tarak arrived back from the USA to attend their trial of Thursday 21^st April. Here is a report from Day 1 of the case.

Background: Why are Kenneth Mayers and Tarak Kauff facing trial by Jury in Dublin?

On St. Patrick’s Day 2019 over three years ago, Kenneth and Tarak entered Shannon airport to attempt to search and investigate any aircraft associated with the US military that were at the airport. When they entered the airport there were two US military aircraft at the airport and one civilian aircraft on contract to the US military.

The trial of US peace activists Kenneth Mayers and Tarak Kauff who are members of Veterans For Peace is due to begin on Monday 25^th April at the Circuit Criminal Court, Parkgate Street, Dublin 8. Both are former members of the US military and Kenneth is a Vietnam War veteran.

On St. Patrick’s Day 2019 Kenneth and Tarak entered Shannon Airport to attempt to search and investigate any aircraft associated with the US military that were at the airport. When they entered the airport there were two US military aircraft at the airport and one civilian aircraft on contract to the US military. They were prevented from searching these aircraft by airport security personnel and Gardai and were arrested and detained at Shannon Garda Station overnight.

Today as in many other days US military is using and abusing Shannon Airport to fuel its wars in the Middle East and its proxy war against Russia in Ukraine. The Russian war in Ukraine is totally without justification and a huge mistake for Russia and of course is disastrous for the people of Ukraine who are caught up in a new Cold War between the two superpowers. This hasbeen turned into a devastating assault that is killing thousands of innocent Ukrainians and thousands of Russian conscripts, and displacing millions of people.

On Sunday March 13^th the Shannonwatch peace vigil at the entrance to Shannon Airport called for Russia to cease its invasion of Ukraine, for the US military to leave Shannon Airport, and for every effort to be made by the Irish government to invest in making peace not war. At the time of the vigil, there was a US troop carrier at the airport. It had been refuelled at Shannon earlier in the day on its way to Poland, and was on its way back the USA possibly to collect more armed US soldiers.

At our monthly peace vigil at Shannon airport today, we had over 20 peace activists protesting against all wars, including the war in Ukraine, and the continuing the US supported wars in the Middle East.

We were accompanied at Shannon by Omni Air carrier N828AX on contract to the US military. It had most likely delivered a plane load of armed US soldiers to Rzeszow Airport in south East Poland close to the border with western Ukraine. It was refuelled at Shannon earlier this morning on its way to Poland and was on its way back the USA this afternoon possibly to collect more armed US soldiers.

Shannonwatch condemns the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, and expresses its solidarity with the innocent civilian population now suffering as a result. The invasion is a gross breach of international laws and a huge tragedy for the people of Ukraine. We urge the Irish government and others to seek diplomatic resolution to the war, and not to support a dangerous or provocative NATO response to Russia’s actions.

So far today at least five aircraft on contract to the US military have refuelled at Shannon Airport on their way from Pope Air Base, Fort Bragg NC USA to an airport called Rzeszow-Jasionka in south east Poland which is just 90KM from the western borders of Ukraine. Another such aircraft is due at Shannon shortly after midnight tonight. These are all probably carrying up to 200 armed US soldiers, which means that about 1,000 US soldiers are likely to have passed through Shannon today.

At about 9.30pm yesterday evening Sunday night, four C17 Globemaster transport aircraft, one Canadian and three from the US, crossed over Northern Ireland.

They were probably heading towards Ukraine as they seem to be on a route that would avoid German air space.

At today's peace vigil at Shannon airport we had 15 peace activists on a windy day. We are concerned that US and NATO are intent on provoking a war in Ukraine which could result in thousands of Ukrainian and other people being killed for no justifiable reason. The US leaders and military are promoting the propaganda the Russia will use a so-called false flag incident to justify Russia invading eastern Ukraine.

Today Ireland seems to be in the centre of a NATO / Russian storm. It may well be seen as a storm in a tea-cup, but the reality is much more serious than that.

In the course of the morning a US spy aircraft P8 Poseidon took off from an air base in north of Scotland and flew down the Irish Sea, heading towards where the Russian naval exercises in the Atlantic are not now taking place..