Garda attempt to stop peace event in Galway this Sunday

galway | anti-war / imperialism | news report Friday June 23, 2006 00:46 by PRO - Galway Alliance Against War

Garda Calls to Home of Peace Activist

The Galway Alliance Against War has claimed that attempts are being made by the authorities in Galway to stop an alternative air show being organised for Nimmo’s Pier, Claddagh at 1.30pm this Sunday. The local peace group plans to release 99 red balloons as a symbol of their opposition to what they term the “Salthill War Show”. This evening a member of the Gardaí went to the home of Niall Farrell, a member of GAAW, to inform him that the Superintendent wished to discuss “safety aspects” of the peace invent.

According to Niall Farrell of GAAW: “The powers-that-be are unhappy that the Mayor and his deputy are boycotting the war show and supporting our alternative peace event, they are angry about the bad publicity revealed by Daily Ireland that 4 of the British pilots were part of the criminal invasion of Iraq, they are displeased that a growing number of people are disenchanted with the obscene nature of the war show. So they are setting out to try and scupper our event. But they won’t. Our event is going ahead. No question.

“Tonight a Bangarda came and told me the Superintendent wanted to talk to me about the safety aspects of our red balloon event. I actually asked her was today April 1st, was it some kind of joke. Rather than speak to me about safety, the superintendent should be talking to those who will have warplanes screaming through our skies at 700 miles an hour next Sunday. Indeed, the Gardaí should be arresting those four pilots who took part in the illegal war in Iraq – not bothering peace activists! And the Gardaí should be making their way not to my door but to rap on the door of those CIA torture jets that regularly refuel down the road in Shannon airport.

“The idea that releasing 99 balloons one and half hours before the war show begins could be a danger to the warplanes is a nonsense. If balloons could be such a danger to warplanes, it is a surprise that Saddam Hussein didn’t use them. And if balloons are a danger to the warplanes, what about the seagulls? Are the authorities going to ban them too?

“Like war, this war show is about one thing and that is making money. Peace is a bad word to these greedy people. ”