Warship not welcome
BY David Lynch
26/06/2006
Protests will greet the largest warship in the British Navy when it arrives in Dublin on Thursday.
Anti war protests intend marching to the HMS Ocean when she docks in Dublin on Thursday.
Daily Ireland revealed last week HMS Ocean, which was heavily involved in the invasion of Iraq, would visit Dublin.
The Irish Anti War Movement (Iawm) will assemble at 6pm on Thursday at the famine memorial at the Irish Financial Services Centre, and then march to the warship.
“This ship was involved in a war that led to the slaughter of tens of thousands of Iraqis,” Richard Boyd Barrett of the Iawm told Daily Ireland, “We are encouraging all people who are against the Iraq invasion and occupation to come out in support of our protest.”
Retired decorated Irish army commandant and anti war activist Ed Horgan said he was “firmly opposed” to the visit.
“I have serious problems about this ship coming, it is all part of the militarisation of Ireland,” he told Daily Ireland.
“We should not be accepting ships that were involved directly or indirectly in the war in Iraq.
“I think all of this is about softening the Irish people up, getting them used to seeing warships in their ports from Britain.
“I would be against any ships that were involved in the Iraq war such as American warships coming here.
“We have no need for them.”
