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The Journal
22-05-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Tánaiste investigating if 'illegal' US deportation flight stopped in Shannon en route to Africa
THE TÁNAISTE SAID he is carrying out enquiries to find out whether a US flight that landed in Shannon was carrying migrants. Speaking on RTÉ Radio this morning, Simon Harris said that he is 'trying to establish the facts' following US media reports. Gardaí in Shannon have this morning told The Journal that the flight is believed to have been a deportation flight that stopped in Ireland en route to Africa. Last night the New York Times published an article that claimed a flight carrying at least eight illegally-deported migrants had left the US en route to South Sudan on Tuesday. The plane flew from Texas to Shannon where it refueled and then took off, flying across Europe and over Saudi Arabia before landing in Djibouti in east Africa. Djibouti has a massive US military base and airfield and was used in the emergency airlift from Sudan when the war broke out in Khartoum. The Journal has established that the plane, a Gulfstream V, landed in Shannon and spent approximately two hours on the ground on Tuesday night. It is not known as yet if gardaí or immigration officials had any interactions with the plane during its time at the airport. Neither the Department of Justice nor Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin responded to a request for a statement. A statement has been requested from gardaí. It is routine that US flights land at Shannon to refuel. Some are military while most, including the Gulfstream GV, are operated by civilian charter companies. Civilian charter company Journey Aviation lists the aircraft on their website . The aircraft is a 14-seater. Our enquiries have found that Journey Aviation has contracts with the US Government. Advertisement The New York Times reported that a judge in Boston, Brian E Murphy, found the Trump administration had breached an order he issued last month barring the US from deporting people to countries not their own without first giving them sufficient time to object. This morning Simon Harris said that he was aware of the US media report and was making enquiries to check its veracity. 'I'm trying to establish the facts on this now in real time, because I'm aware of the US media reports. 'I have no reason to believe that the procedures in place for the use of Irish airports by foreign aircraft has been breached by the United States. But I am seeking more information from my department this morning,' he said. Harris added that he was also seeking 'legal clarity' because of the seriousness of the incident. 'I think complying with US law is obviously a matter for the US administration. 'Complying with our own laws is obviously a matter for the Irish, for the Irish State and the Irish government. 'Let me try and establish more in relation to this, as my Department is. There are very clear rules in relation to flights that can and can't stop over in Shannon and what they must do and not do. 'We need to see whether this was in compliance with that. This is a story that's only emerged in US media, so I'm trying to get on top of it now,' he added. A spokesman for the US Embassy in Dublin referred our query to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). ICE has not responded to a request for a statement. With reporting from Conor O'Carroll. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Post
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Post
Tánaiste says government committed to finding 'truth and justice' for Dublin-Monaghan bombings
THE TÁNAISTE has said the government is committed to finding 'truth and justice' for the Dublin-Monaghan bombings. Simon Harris was speaking yesterday on the 51st anniversary of the bombings, which occurred on May 17, 1974, claiming the lives of 34 people. In Dublin, 27 people — including a mother and her unborn baby — were killed when three car bombs exploded in the city centre, while seven people died from a car bomb in Monaghan town. No warnings were given ahead of the explosions — for which the Ulster Volunteer Force claimed responsibility — and no one has been charged in connection with the tragedy. 'Questions that remain unanswered' Mr Harris described the attacks as 'a most horrific act of violence' but expressed his hope that the forthcoming Denton Review into the so-called Glenanne Gang would shed light on the case. "It is with great sadness that we remember the lives of the 34 people, including an unborn baby, who were taken from us on that summer afternoon," he said. "Five decades on, I am conscious that time can never truly erase the pain of their absence. My thoughts are with their families on this difficult day. "We remember also, the hundreds injured in the brutal attacks and all those who were left behind to face the significant challenges of lives forever changed. "Today is an opportunity to remind ourselves of the questions that remain unanswered. It remains deeply regrettable that no person has been held responsible for the attacks to date. "The publication of the Operation Denton report is expected in the coming months. It is my sincere hope that these findings will shed new light on the terrible events of May 17, 1974. "This government remains committed to finding truth and justice. "I have raised the case of the Dublin Monaghan bombings with the British Government — highlighting the successive Motions passed in the Dáil with the unanimous support of all political parties. "I am committed to taking this forward in a bid to get long-awaited answers." 'Callous attacks' Meanwhile, Minister for Justice, Jim O'Callaghan, called on the British Government to fully cooperate with the ongoing investigations into the bombings, which he described as 'a devastating series of coordinated explosions'. "The Government will not forget our duty to the victims and survivors, and we will persevere in our efforts to seek out the truth behind the tragic events of May 17, 1974 and, hopefully, secure some measure of comfort for those effected by these callous attacks," he said. "We have worked consistently to implement the all-party motions which call on the British Government to allow access to all relevant documents relating to the Dublin-Monaghan bombings and I specifically raised this issue with the British Government at the recent meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference at Hillsborough Castle. "The investigation into the bombings remains an open case in this jurisdiction. Any new evidence that comes to light will be fully investigated by An Garda Síochána. "The Government is committed to working with victims' groups and our Northern Ireland and British counterparts to develop fit-for-purpose mechanisms to meet the needs and expectations of all those impacted by those dark days, including the victims of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. "We will play our full part in legacy processes including addressing the legacy of the conflict in this jurisdiction." The three bombs in Dublin exploded within minutes of each other during evening rush hour in Parnell Street, Talbot Street and South Leinster Street. Meanwhile the Monaghan bomb went off in North Street around 90 minutes later, just before 7pm. Many of the victims of the bombings were young women, including 20-year-old Colette Doherty, who was nine months pregnant and whose unborn child was later recorded as the 34th victim of the atrocity. Four members of the same young family also died in the bombs: John O'Brien, 24, his 22-year-old wife Anna and their children Jacqueline (17 months) and Anne-Marie (five months). The Dublin victims included Antonio Magliocco, 37, originally from Italy and 30-year-old Simone Chetrit, a French woman visiting the capital. The oldest victim was 80-year-old John Dargle, who was killed in the second Dublin bomb. See More: Dublin Monaghan Bombings
