Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 4523Criminal damage, trespass · Co. Clare · 22 Nov 2025

Three activists charged over spray-painting of US military plane at Shannon Airport

At about 9:30am on Saturday 22 November 2025, a van entered an unauthorised area of Shannon Airport in Co Clare and was intercepted by gardaí, Defence Forces and Airport Police Service. Two men and a woman, all 23, were arrested at the scene; the three are named as Kaspar Aiden Cantwell Strattra, Emily Cathcart and Conan Kavanagh, and were charged with criminal damage to a US Navy Reserve Boeing 737-700 and related offences, which are allegations. On Sunday 23 November 2025 they appeared at a special sitting of Ennis District Court and were remanded in custody with consent to bail. The latest development is that they are due to appear before Ennis District Court by video-link on Tuesday 25 November 2025.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrested22 Nov
    3 reports
  3. Charged22 Nov
  4. In court24 Nov
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Three people, two men and a woman all aged 23, were arrested and charged over an incident at Shannon Airport.
  • The people named as suspects are Kaspar Aiden Cantwell Strattra, Emily Cathcart and Conan Kavanagh, each aged 23.
Where
A van entered an unauthorised area of Shannon Airport in Co Clare, described by one source as having crashed through an airside barrier onto the apron, and by another as having entered the runway.
When
The incident happened on Saturday 22 November 2025 at about 9:30am.
Cause
  • Palestine Action Éire claimed responsibility and said the three entered the runway by car to disrupt US military flights.
  • Gardaí described the alleged incursion as planned and premeditated.
Investigation
  • The vehicle was intercepted by gardaí, the Defence Forces and the Airport Police Service, and the three were arrested and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at garda stations in Co Clare.
  • Gardaí seized spray-paint bottles, a fire extinguisher containing green paint and bicycle locks with chains from the scene.
  • Gardaí said investigations were ongoing and the investigating garda believes further, more serious charges will be brought.
Charges
The three are charged with criminal damage to a Boeing 737-700 belonging to the US Navy Reserve, criminal damage to an airside vehicle barrier, and trespass at the main apron and a taxiway.
Weapon
Defence Forces members drew their weapons briefly until the situation was under control.
Other details
  • Airport operations were suspended for about 30 minutes and one incoming aircraft was placed in a holding pattern.
  • After charge and caution, one accused said the use of Shannon Airport by the US military breaks Irish neutrality.
In court
The three appeared at a special sitting of Ennis District Court on Sunday 23 November 2025 at 8:30pm.
Sentence
The judge remanded all three in custody with consent to bail, to appear before Ennis District Court by video-link on Tuesday 25 November 2025.
38 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThree people, two men and one woman in their 20s, were charged. (garda.ie)
  • whereA vehicle entered an unauthorised area of Shannon Airport. (garda.ie)
  • whereA vehicle entered an unauthorised area at Shannon Airport. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereA vehicle entered an unauthorised area of Shannon Airport in Co. Clare. (corkbeo.ie)
  • whereA van gained access to an unauthorised area at Co Clare airport. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe US military plane was sprayed with green paint at Shannon Airport. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereA Ford Transit van entered the apron after crashing through an airside barrier. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe incident happened on Saturday 22 November 2025. (garda.ie)
  • whenThe incident happened on Saturday at about 9.30am. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe incident happened at about 9:30am on Saturday 22 November 2025. (corkbeo.ie)
  • whenThe vehicle was intercepted at around 9.30am on Saturday. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe alleged incident happened at about 9.30am on Saturday 22 November 2025. (irishtimes.com)
  • causePalestine Action Éire said the people gained entry to the runway to disrupt US military flights. (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeThe alleged incursion was described by gardaí as planned and premeditated. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe vehicle was intercepted by security agencies, including An Garda Síochána, the Defence Forces and the Airport Police Service. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationTwo men and a woman, all in their 20s, were arrested at the scene. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe three were detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act at garda stations in Co Clare. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí said investigations were ongoing. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe vehicle was intercepted by Gardaí, the Defence Forces and the Airport Police Service. (corkbeo.ie)
  • investigationTwo males and one female were arrested and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 in Garda stations in Co. Clare. (corkbeo.ie)
  • investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (corkbeo.ie, irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThree people were detained after the vehicle was intercepted. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí seized tools from the scene, including spray-paint bottles, a fire extinguisher containing green paint and bicycle locks with chains. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeGardaí charged the three people arrested and detained. (garda.ie)
  • chargeThe accused are charged with criminal damage to a Boeing 737-700 belonging to the US Navy Reserve. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe accused are also charged with criminal damage to an airside vehicle barrier and trespass at the main apron and a taxiway. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe three are due to appear before a special sitting of Ennis District Court on Sunday 23 November 2025 at 8:30pm. (garda.ie)
  • courtThe case first came before a special sitting of Ennis District Court on a Sunday night. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe judge remanded all three accused in custody with consent to bail, to appear before Ennis District Court by video-link on Tuesday, 25 November 2025. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherPalestine Action Éire claimed responsibility for the breach. (corkbeo.ie)
  • otherThe group said the three people entered the runway by car to disrupt US military flights. (corkbeo.ie)
  • otherThe three people are being held at Garda stations in Clare under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherAirport operations were suspended for around 30 minutes. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherPalestine Action Éire has claimed responsibility for the breach. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherDefence Forces members drew their weapons briefly until the situation was under control. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe airport was shut for 30 minutes and one incoming aircraft was placed in a holding pattern. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherOne accused said after charge and caution that the use of Shannon Airport by the US military breaks Irish neutrality. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe investigating garda believes further, more serious charges will be brought. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 24 Nov2025
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Army personnel draw weapons as pro-Palestinian activists spray-paint US plane at Shannon

    First report of this case. Adds details of the alleged van incursion onto the apron, the spraying of the plane, the seized items, the airport closure, the accused's statement after charge, the remand and the expected further charges.

    accused, Kaspar Aiden Cantwell Strattra, 23, namedKaspar Aiden Cantwell Strattraaccused, Emily Cathcart, 23, named, irish (judged from name)Emily Cathcartaccused, Conan Kavanagh, 23, named, irish (judged from name)Conan Kavanagh
  2. 22 Nov2025
    Arrestedirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Three pro-Palestine activists arrested after Shannon Airport security breach

    First report of the Shannon Airport security breach: the van was intercepted, three people aged in their 20s were detained, and Palestine Action Éire claimed responsibility.

    suspect, 20s, malesuspect, 20s, malesuspect, 20s, female
  3. 22 Nov2025
    Arrestedcorkbeo.ie, follow-up
    Three pro-Palestine activists arrested as security breached at Shannon Airport

    First report of the incident: three people arrested after a vehicle breached security at Shannon Airport. Palestine Action Éire claimed responsibility.

    suspect, 20s, malesuspect, 20s, malesuspect, 20s, female
  4. 22 Nov2025
    Arrestedirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Three arrested after vehicle enters unauthorised area at Shannon Airport

    Initial report of the incident. Adds the time, the intercepting agencies, the arrests of two men and a woman in their 20s, and their detention under Section 4 at garda stations in Co Clare.

    suspect, 20s, malesuspect, 20s, malesuspect, 20s, female
  5. 22 Nov2025
    Chargedgarda.ie, follow-up
    Update: Court Appearances- Incident in Shannon Airport, Shannon, Co. Clare, Saturday 22nd November 2025

    Official garda.ie update confirming the three people arrested were charged and set out the special Ennis District Court sitting on 23 November 2025 at 8:30pm. It does not name the suspects or mention spray-painting or a US military aircraft.

    accused, 20saccused, 20saccused, 20s