Security operation: Thousands of gardaí and members of the Defence Forces arrived in the Shannon area yesterday to take up duty as part of the huge security operation marking the visit of President Bush.
As briefings of senior officers and rank-and-file members of both forces began yesterday afternoon, anti-war protesters, who had established a peace camp on the outskirts of the town, accused gardaí of heavy-handedness in relation to the following and stopping of vehicles belonging to activists.
However, gardaí denied force members were being aggressive in any way. Some 20 activists established the camp in a field along the Limerick-Shannon dual carriageway, six kilometres from the airport.
The build-up of security is expected to reach a maximum by midday tomorrow and continue until the President leaves for Turkey later in the afternoon.
More than 6,000 gardaí, soldiers and security detail from the United States armed forces and Secret Service are taking part in the operation.
The operation was highly visible yesterday afternoon, although security checks were still confined to the approaches to Shannon Airport at that stage, A heavily-armed Army column of 20 armoured personnel carriers and a further 20 transport vehicles also made its way from Limerick along the dual carriageway to take up positions around Dromoland Castle.
Gardaí were also being bussed in from around the country to augment the already heavy security presence in the area. They began to take up positions from 6 p.m. yesterday, which will be manned on a 24-hour basis until Saturday evening.
Various strategic positions have had 24-hour security coverage since last week after they were swept to ensure they were "sterilised" of any potential security hazard. Gardaí have also established three command centres, at the airport, Dromoland Castle and the main command centre at Shannon Garda station.
A detention facility and auxiliary Garda station has also been established at a warehouse in the Shannon industrial estate. The warehouse is also being used as the main canteen to feed more than 4,000 gardaí stationed in the area over the weekend.
The main control room at Shannon Garda station has been kitted out with a bank of 13 screens linked to a large number of specially installed CCTV cameras, giving views of Shannon Airport, the town centre and Dromoland Castle.
Mr Dermot Jennings, Assistant Garda Commissioner in charge of the western region, is in control of the security operation. Five assistant commissioners are in charge of specific sectors.
Yesterday afternoon gardaí stopped and searched a number of protesters who had travelled from Limerick to establish a peace camp. Two vehicles were stopped and searched under the Misuse of Drugs Act, and gardaí removed a bag before allowing them to proceed. No arrests were made.
Protesters said they had been followed by plainclothes gardaí from Limerick where they had been camping in the garden of Mr Edward Horgan, a peace activist and former Army officer.
Mr Horgan, who remonstrated with the gardaí about the searches, holding up a copy of the Constitution, claimed they were being "heavy-handed" and that it was part of a general Government policy aimed at discouraging protesters.
"As a father and grandfather, I find it infuriating to hear our Taoiseach and Tánaiste telling us we should stay quiet and not protest about the killing of innocent children for reasons of jobs and money," he said.
However, Supt John Farrelly of the Garda Press Office said Garda authorities did not intend to interfere with any peaceful protests.
"We're preparing for a worst-case scenario, as we always do. We don't intend to be aggressive in any way, but we will deal with any public disorder effectively and efficiently," he said.