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Extra.ie
2 days ago
- Extra.ie
Gardaí believe Satchwell 'meticulously planned wife Tina's murder for weeks'
Gardaí believe Richard Satchwell planned the murder of his wife weeks in advance because he thought she was going to leave him, has learned. Senior sources familiar with the investigation that would ultimately result in Satchwell's murder conviction said the Englishman meticulously planned the killing before going to extreme lengths to try to cover his tracks. One source said the 'speed and calmness' he displayed as he went into 'alibi mode' convinced detectives that Tina Satchwell's murder was not a spur-of-the-moment killing. They told 'Satchwell made the decision to kill his wife because she had either decided to leave him or because the relationship was deteriorating so much. Richard Satchwell. Pic: Seán Dwyer 'Tina was not happy in Youghal. She left a lovely house to move into a mortgage-free doer-upper, only for her life to be taken from her by a man she should have been able to trust.' The 58-year-old truck driver, originally from Leicester in the UK, reported his wife missing on March 20, 2017. Satchwell repeatedly lied to gardaí, journalists, family, and friends, telling them he had arrived home to their house in Youghal, east Cork, after running errands to discover his wife had left him. He maintained that his wife went missing from their home, at the very time her body was stuffed into a chest freezer before being buried under the stairs in the living room. But in October 2023 – six years after Satchwell reported her missing – gardaí discovered Tina's skeletal remains under the stairs during a second search of the house. Tina Satchwell. Pic: PA Wire Despite this gruesome discovery, Richard Satchwell pleaded not guilty to murdering his wife at their home in No. 3 Grattan Street in Youghal, arguing that he had been defending himself when he inadvertently killed her as she attacked him with a chisel. The court heard that a phone linked to Satchwell sent text messages about purchasing monkeys over the same period when he is alleged to have murdered his wife. Satchwell attempted to purchase two marmoset monkeys, called Terry and Thelma, over a period of two years, from 2015 to March 2017. On the day of Tina's murder – March 20, 2017 – Satchwell wrote to the monkey rescue, saying: 'I'm in a mess right now because my wife has said she is leaving me over this so please let the organisation know.' Richard Satchwell on RTÉ News in 2017. Pic: RTÉ The emails to the monkey rescue were one aspect of the investigation that convinced detectives that Satchwell planned the murder. A source told 'It was the investigation view that the speed and calmness that he went into alibi mode in terms of sending the monkey email.' The source also noted Tina was 'hardly dead' when Satchwell had showered, changed his clothes and then went to the post office to collect his dole. Satchwell then went on a round trip to Dungarvan in Co. Waterford – around 30kms from Youghal – for a bottle of water 'so he could say she was gone when he got back'. 'This all belies a preparedness that could only have occurred before the killing,' the source said. But while the investigation team believes Satchwell planned to kill his wife, sources familiar with the case said Tina's birth mother thought her daughter's husband was innocent until her body was discovered. Tina Satchwell's mother, Mary Collins. Pic: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Mary Collins told confidants she believed Satchwell was genuine in the numerous media appeals he made appealing for information about his wife's disappearance. 'It was a difficult time for the whole family, and Mary believed Richard,' a source told 'She never doubted him. With hindsight, it's easy to see through his lies, but at the time he was very convincing.' Tina only discovered Mary Collins was her birth mother when she found her birth certificate around the time she was making her confirmation. Up until then, she believed the grandmother who raised her was her mother. Tina Satchwell. Pic: Facebook Ms Collins attended court every day of the trial and was often visibly upset by the evidence of what Satchwell had done to her daughter. When the verdict was read just before lunchtime on Friday, several members of the Satchwell family, who occupied a full bench at the back of the courtroom, wept audibly. Three of the jurors were also crying as they walked out of the jury box for the last time. Afterwards, the family spoke to assembled media on the steps of the Central Criminal Court at Parkgate Street, Dublin. Tina's niece, Sarah Howard, to whom Satchwell had offered the freezer in which he initially stored his wife's remains after he killed her, spoke about the family's dismay at the manner in which he denigrated her aunt's name. 'During this trial, Tina was portrayed in a way that was not who she was,' she told reporters. 'Tina was our precious sister, cousin, auntie and daughter whose presence in our lives meant so much to us all. We can never put into words the impact that her loss has had on all of us. 'Tina was a kind, loving, tender soul who loved her animals as they loved her, and that's the way we want her remembered.' Ms Howard, who gave evidence in the trial just two weeks after giving birth, continued: 'Today, as family, we finally have justice for Tina, and we now ask for privacy to begin our healing.' Before she spoke, Tina's sister, Lorraine Howard, thanked the gardaí and the judge and jury for their work. She also thanked the State's legal team, Geraldine Small and Imelda Kelly. 'Your hard work and professionalism shone through like the classy ladies you are,' she said. Lorraine Howard gave evidence in the case as the only witness for the defence. But has learned that she had no idea she would be appearing in Satchwell's defence until she arrived at court. Her discomfort was visible during her questioning by defence counsel Brendan Grehan. She was brought to the witness box on foot of a statement she made to gardaí in August 2020, when Tina was still believed to be missing. She had been estranged from her sister for 15 years before her disappearance. In the statement, she described Tina as 'high-maintenance' and that her husband spent every penny he had on her. She had also claimed Tina had a bad temper and had screamed at her so badly on one occasion that it induced a miscarriage in her. But when she appeared on the witness stand last week, Ms Howard said: 'I gave that statement in anger… whereas in actual fact, he was the person I should have aimed the anger at,' gesturing with her head towards Satchwell in the dock. 'I believed her to be alive… I was angry with her at the time. I didn't see him [Satchwell] as controlling at the time… but I've revised my views on information I've seen… I wasn't aware of aspects of their relationship.' The murder trial lasted just under five weeks, and the courtroom was packed every day. Much of the credit for finally bringing Satchwell to justice is being given to the senior investigating officer, Superintendent Ann Marie Twomey, who took over the case in 2021. 'She deserves all credit,' a source said. 'She and her team were determined Tina's family would get the justice they deserve.' The five-week murder trial at the Central Criminal Court heard Satchwell, who is from Leicester in England, claimed his wife was physically abusive to him and that she died after she 'flew' at him with a chisel. He also claimed he used the belt of her dressing robe to keep her off him before she went limp. Satchwell then buried his wife under the stairs of their living room. He denied murdering Tina, but did not give evidence during the trial. He has been in custody since he was first charged on October 14, 2023, with Tina's murder. Satchwell now faces mandatory life in prison when he is sentenced next Wednesday by Judge Paul McDermott, after which victim impact statements will be heard.
RTÉ News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Rory Gallagher instruments brought back to life at festival
Instruments belonging to the world-famous blues guitarist Rory Gallagher have been brought back to life in his birthplace of Ballyshannon, Co Donegal. Musicians have been given the opportunity to play guitars belonging to the guitarist who sold 30 million albums as part of the annual international Rory Gallagher Festival. Chairperson of the Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival, Barry O'Neill, told RTÉ News that collectors in Ballyshannon were able to secure several guitars, harmonicas, a mandola and other items during an auction in London last October. The instruments, which will go on display as part of a permanent exhibition later this year, include a mandola made by Chris Eccleshall, who also made instruments for David Bowie, Peter Townshed and Eric Clapton. Barry O'Neill said they are "delighted it is going to rest in Ballyshannon" as it is an important part of musical heritage as Rory Gallagher only had one mandola. The collection also includes a supro dual-tone electric guitar, gifted to Rory Gallagher in 1985 by Canadian slide guitarist Paul Fenton. He played the instrument extensively on tours in north America and Canada in the 1980s. Ciarán Hodgins, a musician from Ballyshannon, said it was an honour and "a once in a life [opportunity] to play the instrument". "The guitar is road worn. Rory was a hard player but as soon as it's connected to an amplifier - it's as good as new. "It's surreal and it's a real honour to play it and to keep Rory Gallagher's legacy alive in Ballyshannon," he said. Tickets for this weekend's festival have been sold in 22 countries. Rory Gallagher was born at the Rock Hospital in Ballyshannon in 1948. His family moved to Derry city before settling in Cork. He died in 1995. As a recording artist, he sold over 30 million albums during his career. He played and toured around the globe. Visitors from UK, France and Australia said they made the journey to Ballyshannon because of their love for Rory Gallagher's music as well as the camaraderie and friendship found at the festival. Julian Vignoles, author of Rory Gallagher: The Man Behind the Guitar said he has "only missed one year" of the festival which is like "a pilgrimage". "People like me come to express our belief in the power and the majesty of Rory Gallagher's music." Guitarist Johnny Gallagher said the Rory Gallagher Festival created a great interest in rhythm and blues and rock and roll music. "It's a fantastic positive. Some of the greatest bands and guitarists in the world are coming to the festival. "Down and dirty with the blues in Ballyshannon - sure you couldn't be at it in a better place," he said.
RTÉ News
3 days ago
- RTÉ News
Suspect in Gaine case claims he is being framed by criminals
The suspect in the Michael Gaine murder case has denied having any involvement in the killing of the Co Kerry farmer. Michael Kelley, a former US Army soldier, claims he is being framed by a subversive criminal organisation. Mr Kelley, who is an American citizen in his 50s, has told RTÉ News that he was the man arrested and questioned by gardaí on suspicion of murdering Mr Gaine. Having been detained and questioned for a period of 24 hours in Killarney Garda Station he was released without charge on 19 May. RTÉ News has spoken to Mr Kelley on two occasions. The first interview took place in early April in the old farmhouse where Mr Kelley had been living on Mr Gaine's farm. This interview was conducted before Mr Kelley was arrested and when Mr Gaine's disappearance was still being treated as a missing persons case. Mr Kelley also spoke to RTÉ News last Monday, in the apartment where he now lives in Tralee. During this meeting, Mr Kelley confirmed on the record that he had since been arrested and questioned. He also reaffirmed aspects of this case discussed in the initial meeting. Mr Kelley said he worked as a labourer on Mr Gaine's farm for almost three years. "We worked hand and glove. Doing the sheep or whatever, dosing them and stuff. I had already handled animals. I was fixing cars and tractors for him." Mr Kelley said he last saw Mr Gaine "around 10am" on 20 March when they met in the farmyard. Mr Gaine had indicated to him that he was planning to meet somebody that day, before giving Mr Kelley a list of chores to complete during the day. Mr Kelley said he then returned to the old farmhouse to make coffee, adding that was the last time he saw Mr Gaine. "Around 10am. He was as normal as ever. He was doing his chores. Redistributing the silage and things. Just ordinary chores. "He said 'look after the chores for me. I'm just going to meet a man. I'll be back later'. "He didn't come back that night. He said he would be back. Then they came looking for him at about 10am the following morning." The Kerry farmer disappeared on 20 March. Mr Gaine's vehicle, which contained a number of personal items, was found on the farm at Carrig East, situated between the town of Kenmare and Moll's Gap. In an effort to establish the whereabouts of Mr Gaine, an extensive search of Mr Gaine's farm, surrounding valleys and lakes was initiated. Mr Gaine's disappearance was upgraded by gardaí from a missing person case to a homicide investigation on 29 April. Human remains were discovered on Mr Gaine's farm on 16 May, as workers were spreading slurry on fields. The farm was immediately sealed off and declared a crime scene. Further human remains are believed to have been found in a slurry spreader and in a slurry tank on the farm in the following days. Gardaí say DNA tests have since confirmed that the human remains are those of Mr Gaine. Mr Kelley was arrested on suspicion of murder by gardaí in Tralee on 16 May. He had relocated to an apartment there two weeks previous to his arrest. Mr Kelley denies any involvement in the murder of Mr Gaine and believes Mr Gaine may have been lured to his death by sinister elements. "If he wasn't around the barn during the day, it's possible that somebody lured him, maybe at gun point, in to an area of concealment. You could walk 100 yards from the barn and be totally out of sight." Mr Kelley has his own theories about how Mr Gaine was killed and how his body was disposed of. He also believes there are questions to be answered about the way the investigation is being conducted by gardaí. Mr Kelley said he was taken to Sneem Garda Station shortly after Mr Gaine's disappearance to make a voluntary statement. Mr Kelley was arrested on 18 May, two days after human remains were discovered on Mr Gaine's farm. Questioned by RTÉ News about his relationship with Mr Gaine, Mr Kelley described it as "transactional" and "a good working relationship." "I wouldn't describe us as great friends, but we got on. Our relationship was transactional. He gave me accommodation, food and paid me. In return I worked on his farm. "We had a good working relationship. A civil relationship. We got on and understood one another. "We are both farmers. We are getting along because we are grown men and we have work to do. "We were brothers of the land, around the same age, with similar interests, and I liked that sense of brotherhood." Mr Kelley said he repaired and maintained farm machinery and vehicles for Mr Gaine. Mr Kelley also showed RTÉ News an old range [stove] in the farmhouse which he said he had repaired and plumbed to provide hot water in a makeshift sink. Mr Kelley was using what appeared to be a tractor battery to charge his personal devices. He said there was no electricity in the house, but that he was comfortable. "The arrangement got me out of the limbo I was in where I needed a job and I needed a place to stay. I was doing the work and we were getting along alright. Mr Kelley is originally from a rural part of Maine in the United States. He said he served in the US military as an infantry private and spent an extended period of his service in Germany. Mr Kelley, who is separated and has three daughters, said he arrived in Ireland in late 2017. He claims he was forced to flee the United States as he had been investigating criminal activity there and feared his life was in danger. Mr Kelley said he remains in danger and he is of the belief that he continues to be monitored by sinister elements here in Ireland. "It's an organised crime network. It's co-ordinated on the internet," he said. After an unsuccessful attempt to secure asylum status in Ireland, Mr Kelley said he spent prolonged periods living in the forests in Killarney National Park and in another wooded area between Sneem and Kenmare. He said he held a number of jobs in the Glenbeigh and Sneem/Kenmare areas, including as a seaweed harvester and as a landscape gardener, before he went to work for Michael Gaine. Mr Kelley said he is a mechanic and also designs prototypes. During the interview in the old farmhouse on Mr Gaine's farm, Mr Kelley showed RTÉ News a sketch book which contained many detailed drawings of various pieces of equipment which he had designed. He said he hopes to share these designs with MI5 or other military entities. Mr Kelley is also a musician who plays the flute and tin whistle along with other instruments. He was recently seen busking in Tralee. During the course of his interview with RTÉ News he played a traditional Irish air, An Cúilfhionn. Mr Kelley said he first met Mr Gaine when he approached the farmer seeking work in 2022. He had been living in a makeshift camp in the woods a few kilometres from Mr Gaine's farm when Mr Gaine offered to let him stay in the old farmhouse: "It suited me. Firstly, it offered me access to food and it gave me a roof over my head," he said.
Irish Independent
4 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Nearly 2,000 US military flights stopped at Irish airports in last three years
Figures obtained and reported by RTÉ News show 978 US military flights landed in Ireland between 2022 and 2024, with the majority landing at Shannon Airport. Over the same period, more than 1,000 applications were made for US civil aircraft with munitions of war on board to land in Shannon. In total, 1,700 applications were made for civil aircraft with weapons on board to fly over Irish airspace. The figures from the Department of Foreign Affairs show that 0.1pc of the applications made for civil aircraft carrying weapons to land or fly over Ireland were refused in the last three years. Out of 543 applications to fly over Ireland with munitions of war in 2024, two were refused. During the period, no US military aircraft were prevented from landing at Irish airports. According to the Department of Transport, the carriage of munitions of war on civil aircraft in Irish airspace is prohibited 'unless an exemption for such carriage is granted by the Minister for Transport'. "Applications for an exemption must detail specifically what is being carried, why and for whom, providing as much detail as possible.' Department of Transport figures for January and February of this year show a total of 236 applications for these exemptions were received, with 232 granted, none refused and four cancelled. Nearly three million US soldiers have passed through Shannon Airport since 2002, according to Shannonwatch, a campaign group that monitors US military activity at the airport. "Shannon Airport is being used as a logistic hub for the US military. This is particularly important at the moment and particularly inappropriate with the genocide that is happening in Gaza,' Shannonwatch contributor Edward Horgan told RTÉ.
RTÉ News
4 days ago
- Business
- RTÉ News
Why Shannon Airport remains a key gateway for the US military
Questions over Ireland's role in the United States' military supply chain have long been asked. Millions of US soldiers have passed through Shannon Airport over the past two decades as it transformed into a significant transit point for the US military, particularly for its operations in the Middle East. But while US on the ground military involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq has come to an end, figures show that Shannon Airport continues to be constantly and consistently used by the United States. Data obtained and analysed by RTÉ News shows that between 2022 and 2024, nearly 2,000 US military aircrafts and US civil air operators with declared munitions of war on-board applied for exemptions to stop in Ireland. The flights were frequently to and from Germany, Poland, Bulgaria and Kuwait. These planes are not routinely searched or inspected by Irish authorities. Only 0.1% of applications from US civil aircraft were refused to land or fly over Ireland due to the "nature of the total munitions of war proposed to be carried", the Department of Transport told RTÉ News. No US military aircraft was prevented from landing in Ireland over that three year period, according to figures from the Department of Foreign Affairs. The Government maintains that while Ireland is not politically neutral, it is militarily neutral - meaning it is making a distinction between armed engagement and foreign policy positions. However, Shannon is used frequently by the United States, with dozens of military and civilian aircraft with weapons onboard landing and taking off every month, with little intervention or checks. To what extent is this military traffic within the parameters of Ireland's long-standing practice of neutrality? Shannon Airport On the edge of Europe, Shannon Airport is at a strategic location. It is the most westerly airport in Europe - a key and quiet facility that does not have the hustle and bustle of transport hubs of London and Amsterdam. Shortly after it opened in 1945, Shannon Airport became a convenient transatlantic refuelling stop for US military and diplomatic flights. Soviet carrier Aeroflot had established a base there, allowing flights from the Soviet Union to refuel in Ireland before travelling onwards to countries such as Cuba and Angola. Shannon became the biggest Soviet transit airport outside Moscow until the 1990s. Pictures of world leaders stopping at the airport can be seen in its departure halls. US President John F Kennedy flew into Shannon Airport in 1963 for his historic tour of Ireland and more than 40 years later another US President, George W Bush, posed for photos with US marines headed to Iraq. Already this year, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have held press conferences and meetings at the Co Clare airport. Links with the United States go back decades. The early 90s marked an uptick in the airport being used by aircraft connected to the US military during Operation Desert Storm in the Gulf. It was ramped up further at the turn of the century when, following 9/11, Shannon Airport became a key transit hub for US troops travelling to Afghanistan and Iraq. The Irish government had offered the use of Shannon to the US government for landing and refuelling facilities after the terror attacks after a UN Security Council Resolution which requested states work together to bring to justice those responsible for 9/11. In 2003, the Dáil voted to support the government's policy of continuing to grant overflight and landing rights in Ireland to US military and civilian aircraft. Defence and Security consultant Dakota Wood told RTÉ News that Shannon is attractive because it is less trafficked than a very large airfield like Frankfurt and has good ramp space. Mr Wood, who served for two decades in the US Marine Corps, said there are many considerations that go into choosing an airport and Shannon "has proved to be a very useful through put point". Over ten years from 2001 to 2011, over two million US military personnel flew through Shannon Airport. 2005 was the busiest year when nearly 2,000 aircraft carrying 336,000 personnel flew through the airport. What are the rules? Under the Air Navigation Order 1952, no foreign military aircraft is permitted to fly over, or land in the State without the 'express invitation or permission of the Minister'. However, under the terms of a specific arrangement dating from 1959, US military aircraft can overfly without prior notification on condition they are unarmed, carry only cargo and passengers, and comply with navigational requirements. Permission must also be sought to land and take off in Ireland as long as there are no arms or munitions on board, no involvement in military exercises or operations originating in Ireland, and no intelligence gathering. Civil and military aircrafts intending to carry munitions of war, or weapons through or into Irish territory must apply for a special exemption from the Irish Government to land or fly over Irish airspace. Permission must be sought even if the weapons on the aircraft are not loaded with ammunition or immediately usable, which is part of the policy to support Ireland's neutral stance. US civil aircraft apply for permission from the Department of Transport to carry troops and equipment across Irish airspace or land at airports, such as Shannon. Charter and cargo carriers, including Omni Air International and Atlas Air, which often operate under government and military contracts are the most commonly used. Ireland could deny or ground flights if it were to become clear that weapons or undeclared military cargo were on board. How many flights? In recent years, from 2022 to 2024, almost 2,000 US military and US civil flights with munitions of war on board stopped in Ireland. Over those three years, a total of 978 US military flights landed at Irish airports, mostly in Shannon. New data from the Department of Transport, obtained and analysed by RTÉ News, shows that during the same period, more than 1,000 applications were made by US civil operators with munitions of war on board to land at Shannon Airport. These applications were for what the department calls "tech stops" - brief landings to refuel and perform maintenance checks. Only 0.1% of them were refused due to the "nature of the total munitions of war proposed to be carried", according to the department. More than 1,700 applications were made from US civil aircraft with munitions of war on board to fly over Irish airspace. A majority of the munitions of war were unloaded "personal issued weapons of troops, with no ammunition". One flight in 2022 had "ammunition only" listed in the description of munitions of war. More than 820 applications were made for US civil aircraft with munitions onboard to stop or fly over Irish airspace in 2024 - 279 of them stopped at Shannon Airport. Two of the 543 applications made to fly over Ireland with munitions of war were refused. On 8 July, an Omni Air International flight travelling from Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport in Hungary to Pittsburgh International Airport in the US was refused permission to overfly. Three weeks later, on 30 July, another aircraft from the same airline was refused permission to fly in Irish airspace from Pittsburgh International Airport in Pennsylvania to Hungary's Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport. The Department of Transport told RTÉ News that they were refused "based on the nature of the total munitions of war proposed to be carried". In relation to US military aircraft, 357 landing requests were granted in 2024. In 2023, 860 applications were made by US civil aircraft with munitions of war on board to land or fly over Ireland. 258 stopped at Shannon Airport, one at Dublin airport. Nearly 600 flew over Irish air space that year. Former US president Joe Biden visited Ireland in April of that year when there was a clear increase in traffic. The same year, there were 530 landings by US military aircraft granted at Irish airports, mostly in Shannon. However, it is worth noting that the US Embassy submits the statistics on military aircraft overflights to the Department of Foreign Affairs on a monthly basis - it is not data collected by the department. 2022 saw just more than 1,000 applications made by US civil air operators to overfly or land with munitions of war. Permission was denied to one of the 467 made to stop at Shannon Airport for the same reason as the Hungary flights in 2024, said the Department of Transport. The flight refused was an Omni aircraft on 21 May 2022 from Washington Dulles International Airport to Poland which was due to land at Shannon Airport. The same year, 91 US military aircrafts landed in the country. Hundreds of the flights were to and from common destinations such as Germany, Poland and Bulgaria - all key hubs for NATO operations. Germany is home to the Ramstein Air Base and several major US military installations. There was a noticeable increase in traffic when the US was boosting troops in Europe following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Kuwait, a long-standing US military hub in the Middle East, is also regularly travelled to which is home to approximately 13,500 US forces based in Camp Arifjan and Ali Al Salem Air Base. It is used as a staging area for troops rotating in and out of many Middle East countries and onward links to Israel or Gulf allies. Are they checked? There is little intervention or checks when it comes to these aircrafts. Calls have been made for inspections to ensure they are not carrying weapons or detainees. Retired US army officer and analyst of US foreign policy, Daniel L Davis, stopped at Shannon Airport via a civil aircraft following his deployment to Iraq in 2009 and told RTÉ that he was required to have his weapons on him. "I was required to have my side arm and rifle with me at all times but it was definitely not loaded, had no ammunition with it. But I was very much required to maintain positive control over it at all times," he said. In 2009, Amnesty International alleged that rendition flights operated by the United States passed through Shannon. It claimed that the State was facilitating uninspected CIA flights through Irish airspace which were bringing detainees to centres such as Guantanamo Bay. Most recently, the Irish Government is examining a report that a flight carrying deportees from the United States to Africa, against a judge's order, stopped Shannon. Professor of International Law at the University of Notre Dame Mary Ellen O'Connell said Irish authorities should be "very clear" that it will not permit the United States to transport weapons bound for unlawful armed conflict through Ireland. "This is my area of expertise for almost 40 years… the United States is using military force all around the world unlawfully especially in the Middle East and Africa," said Prof O'Connell, who has worked in areas of international law on the use of force, international dispute resolution and international legal theory. She said there could be problems for Ireland if there are any munitions landing at Shannon that is ending up in unlawful conflicts. "Ireland should have complete control over planes that land at Shannon that are carrying munitions… anything destined for a war zone. It's important for Ireland which stands tall on so many of these issues of international law to take seriously this principle not to assist a country in any way that's using military force unlawfully" she added. Former Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.), Daniel L Davis said that much of the travel is to Bulgaria and Germany which has nothing to do with combat. "For me it seems like it wouldn't violate any neutrality unless they were… are helping the US in a combat operation," he said. "The United States had an issue for helping Saudi Arabia around 2015… to help it to combat missions against Yemen and the Houthis. Even then we tried to claim that we were not party to the conflict, even though we were directly helping refuelling etc. But something like this where you literally just land at the airport and refuel, and use the facilities I think that would be two or three levels distant from it," he said. Use of Shannon by the US does not affect Ireland's policy of military neutrality, according to the Irish Government. A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs said Ireland's policy of military neutrality is characterised by non-membership of military alliances and non-participation "in common or mutual defence arrangements". "This policy is fully consistent with foreign military and state aircrafts being allowed to enter Irish sovereign airspace or land in the State under certain circumstances," they said. A peace activist and contributor to Shannonwatch, a group which has monitored US activity at the airport for twenty years, said he believes Shannon Airport is a 'de-facto' military base for the United States. Edward Horgan, who has spent two decades protesting the use of Shannon Airport by the US military, said now is the time for the US to be forbidden from using the airport. Last year, the Department of Transport confirmed that nine civilian aircraft, reported by The Ditch website, carried munitions of war which were destined for Israel over Irish sovereign airspace. "I spent 22 years in the Irish Defence Forces, was heavily involved in logistics and logistics play a huge role in modern warfare. Shannon Airport is being used as a logistic hub for the US military. "This is particularly important at the moment and particularly inappropriate with the genocide that is happening in Gaza," he said. Military bases deployed in a foreign territory usually have a formal legal agreement or treaty with the hosting nation. A base usually has a permanent military presence and control over part of a secure site for the use of military-specific operations or missions. The Department of Foreign Affairs said this week that they have not been notified of any US Military Officers permanently based at Shannon Airport. Figures show that US military aircraft and civilian aircraft regularly and routinely land and refuel there with minimal oversight by the authorities here. However, the Irish Government insists that the US military's use of the airport is subject to strict conditions include no arms or ammunition without specific permission and that no operation missions are launched from Shannon. Other civilian airports in neutral countries with significant US military logistical use, but not military-controlled or designated bases, include Switzerland and Austria. Similar to Ireland, all US military flights must declare their purpose and contents but physical inspections are limited. Retired US army officer Davis said that he believes it is not a de-facto military base. "What would distinguish it from a military base if you had fighter jets on there. If you had routine military transport aircraft, if you had US air force facilities… like what we do in the Middle East, in Qatar for example or Kuwait. "We have parts of the whole airfield that are fenced off and it's just US territory there, that's what I consider a base but this sounds more like a leasing agreement and an arrangement to use existing facilities," he said.
