Galway arts worker's bail application to travel to UK refused in Shannon aircraft damage case
Nell Buckley, 29, a Galway arts worker charged with spray-painting an Omni Air International aircraft at Shannon Airport on 17 May 2025, was refused permission by Judge Alec Gabbett at Ennis District Court to travel to the UK for Arts Council-funded work, with the judge citing airport safety concerns and the potential for an international incident.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested17 May
2 reports - Chargednot reported
- In court21 May
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports36 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThree women were arrested after allegedly gaining access to the airside area of Shannon Airport and causing criminal damage to an aircraft. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe women threw red paint onto the forward section of an Omni Air International Boeing 767-330(ER) aircraft. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- whatAirport operations were halted, forcing three arriving aircraft into holding patterns. (irishtimes.com)
- whatA female Garda was injured during the arrests and taken to University Hospital Limerick with non-life-threatening injuries. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe Shannon-based Irish Coast Guard helicopter was grounded during the incident. (irishtimes.com)
- whatAll three women were detained and operations returned to normal shortly before 5pm. (irishtimes.com)
- whatA Garda was hospitalised following a security incident at Shannon Airport on Saturday afternoon. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThree women were arrested after gaining access to the airside area and causing criminal damage to an aircraft. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatOperations were brought to a standstill, forcing three arriving aircraft into holding patterns. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe Shannon-based Irish Coast Guard helicopter was grounded once operations were suspended. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatOperations were affected for less than 30 minutes. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThree females aged between 20 and 50 breached the perimeter fence and caused criminal damage. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA Garda was injured during the arrests and taken to University Hospital Limerick for assessment. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe Garda's injuries are non-life-threatening. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatNell Buckley is 29 years old (irishtimes.com)
- whatNell Buckley is a Galway arts worker with a Masters qualification (irishtimes.com)
- whatPart of the front of the Omni Air International aircraft was spray painted with red paint (irishtimes.com)
- whatNell Buckley is one of three women charged with the criminal damage (irishtimes.com)
- whatNell Buckley did her Masters in the Netherlands and returned in 2020 (irishtimes.com)
- whatNell Buckley intended to travel to Great Yarmouth for Arts Council-funded work over three days (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe aircraft was parked at Stand 42 at the end of the terminal building. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe women approached an Omni Air International aircraft parked at Stand 42 at the end of the terminal building. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereNell Buckley lives at Ard Omra, Ballyburke, Ballymoneen Road, Galway (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe incident is believed to have occurred at around 4.30pm on Saturday. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe incident at Shannon Airport occurred on 17 May 2025 (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe three women were detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at Garda stations in Co Clare. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeNell Buckley is charged with criminal damage to the aircraft (irishtimes.com)
- chargeNell Buckley is charged with entering a restricted area beside the control tower at Shannon Airport with intent to unlawfully interfere with property (irishtimes.com)
- courtNell Buckley is barred from entering any airport and must return her passport as a bail condition (irishtimes.com)
- courtNell Buckley was remanded on continuing bail to reappear in court on 9 July 2025 (irishtimes.com)
- courtNell Buckley intends to contest the charges at trial (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge was not open to an application to allow travel by ferry to the UK (irishtimes.com)
- otherThis was the second security incident at Shannon Airport in May 2025. (irishtimes.com)
- otherOn 1 May 2025, three people were arrested after crashing a van into a security fence at Shannon Airport. (irishtimes.com)
- otherOn 1 May, three people were arrested after crashing a van into a security fence at the airport. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe incident at Shannon Airport received wide publicity (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 21 May2025Galway arts worker charged with criminal damages to aircraft at Shannon refused permission to travel
Bail hearing at Ennis District Court where Judge Alec Gabbett refused to relax Buckley's bail conditions to allow travel to the UK; she remains on continuing bail with a bar on entering any airport and must return her passport, to reappear on 9 July 2025. The judge also indicated he was not open to a ferry travel application.
accused, Nell Buckley, 29, female, named, irish (judged from name)Nell Buckleyaccused, femaleaccused, female - 18 May2025Garda hospitalised after Shannon Airport security incident as arrests made
Provides operational details of the incident: the specific aircraft type and stand, the method of damage (red paint thrown), the time (approx. 4.30pm), the 30-minute disruption to operations, the Garda injury, and confirms this was the second security incident at Shannon that month.
suspect, femalesuspect, femalesuspect, femalevictim, female - 17 May2025Garda hospitalised after security incident at Shannon Airport
Adds details on the Garda being hospitalised at University Hospital Limerick, the specific aircraft type (Boeing 767-330(ER)), the time of the incident (4.30pm), the operational disruption (three aircraft in holding patterns, Coast Guard helicopter grounded), and that it was the second security incident at Shannon that month following a van crash on 1 May.
suspect, femalesuspect, femalesuspect, femalevictim, female