Clare TD Insists Shannon Airport Not To Blame If Weapons To Israel Passing Through Irish Airspace

Clare FM

Clare's Government TD claims that even if "the devil incarnate" touched down at Shannon Airport, the blame doesn't lie with management at the Clare base. A Government investigation is ongoing following reports that aircraft carrying potential military cargo to Israel passed through Irish airspace, while it's also been reported that Shannon Airport was used to transport weapons war from Israel to the US. As part of a larger investigation into military planes passing through Irish airspace, online news publication the Ditch reported in August that an Israeli-operated cargo plane used to transport weapons to Israel exited Irish airspace over Kilkee on January 24th of this year. Since this, reports of other planes carrying military artillery entering Irish airspace have appeared on the website. Under the Irish Air Navigation and Transport Act 1946, transporting muntions through Irish sovereign airspace without an exemption is a criminal offence and is punishable by three years imprisonment. Following the reports, the Department of Transport has confirmed it's conducting an investigation to confirm if nine military cargo flights alleged to have transported military equipment to Israel were in fact carrying munitions of war. Ditch Reporter, Eoghan McNeill says given the level of regulation in the aviation industry, it shouldn't take long for the Department to determine what was on board the planes in question. The Taoiseach and Tánaiste have both claimed in recent months that no weapons being delivered to Israel are passing through Irish airspace. In a statement to Clare FM, the Department of Transport says it's "aware of media reports regarding overflights of civil aircraft." It says it's "examining the issue" and "detailed work is ongoing to determine the nature of the cargo on board" the flights in question "and whether this should have been the subject of an exemption to carry munitions of war". Meelick TD and Fianna Fáil Aviation Spokesperson Cathal Crowe says if it's confirmed that Shannon Airport played a role in the transportation of weaponry to Israel, it's the fault of the Department of Transport.