A former UN assistant secretary-general yesterday told a Co Clare court that an attack by an anti-war activist on a US navy plane at Shannon was justified.
On the second day of the trial of Ms Mary Kelly (50), formerly of the peace camp at Shannon, Mr Denis Halliday told Ennis Circuit Court that he supported Ms Kelly's action on January 29th.
Mr Halliday told the court: "It is a form of violence I would support. Bruising an aircraft that is part of the US system is a small gesture and does not represent serious violence."
Mr Halliday told the court that he resigned his post as head of the UN Oil for Food programme in Iraq in October 1998 in protest at the effect UN sanctions were being on the people of Iraq.
Mr Halliday told the court that Ms Kelly's action was "a good decision as it brought attention to the Irish people of the use of Shannon airport by the US military". The court heard that the cost of the damage caused to the plane was $ 1.55 (€ 1.34) million .
Ms Kelly is pleading not guilty to a charge of criminal damage without lawful excuse of a US Navy plane at Shannon on January 29th and to illegal trespass at the airport on the same date. Ms Kelly was again accompanied by a large group of supporters in court. A TV crew from the Qatar-based Al Jazeera channel were there to record the case.
In evidence yesterday Ms Kelly said she took an axe to the plane to give pause to the Irish Government allowing US military planes refuel at Shannon.
Ms Kelly said she damaged the plane because "I wanted to do something to preserve the life of the people of Iraq". She was horrified that Ireland was facilitating an attack on Iraq.
Ms Kelly said that she had nothing against the people of the US but claimed that they were being misled by their government "in an unjust, immoral and unsanctioned war against Iraq".
When prosecuting counsel, Mr Stephen Coughlan, BL, pointed out that the plane was carrying no munitions and going to Sicily, Ms Kelly responded: "That plane was part of a system that was already engaged in war on a defenceless people."
A qualified nurse and mother of four, Ms Kelly told the court that she had no previous convictions and that her attack on the plane was an act of conscience.
The case continues today.
