Pro-Palestine Activists Detained Following Occupation of American Weapons Manufacturer Subsidiary in Cork

In a recent incident in Cork, two pro-Palestine activists were detained after occupying the offices of Collins Aerospace, a subsidiary of the American company RTX Corporation. The activists, affiliated with Palestine Action Eire, claimed that the subsidiary is involved in producing weapons used by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in Gaza.

Details of the Occupation

The activists entered the Penrose Business Centre on Penrose Wharf at around 7 AM on a Monday morning. They proceeded to the fourth floor, where Collins Aerospace is located, and climbed onto a balcony. While on the balcony, they displayed a banner and several flags, including Palestinian and Irish Tricolour flags. They also poured a red liquid over the building.

Company Response

Collins Aerospace, a key player within the aerospace and defense sectors, has previously denied involvement in producing weapons for RTX sold to Israel. A spokesperson stated, “No, nothing from Cork … this is a commercial aerospace business, which is not part of the defence subsidiary, but is part of RTX.”

Garda Response

Gardaí responded to the incident with trained negotiators, who engaged with the activists for about five hours. The activists eventually descended from the balcony shortly before 1 PM, during which they were arrested peacefully. Security forces, including the Garda Special Detective Unit and Armed Support Unit, were on standby but did not intervene.

Arrests and Legal Proceedings

The two activists, identified as Myles from Cork and Kellie from Northern Ireland, were arrested on suspicion of burglary. They have been brought to Mayfield and Gurranebraher Garda stations for questioning. Under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, they can be detained for up to 24 hours before a decision is made regarding charges or release.

Protests and Solidarity Efforts

• The site of the occupation has witnessed multiple protests organized by the Cork Palestine Solidarity Campaign (CPSC) over the last two years.
• No injuries were reported during the occupation and the subsequent stand-off.
• Palestine Action Eire emphasized their targeted approach, stating they focused exclusively on Collins Aerospace and not other businesses within the Penrose Wharf Business Centre.

As of now, Collins Aerospace has opted not to comment further on the incident.