US Veterans Being Held In Ireland Walk For Freedom
Two elderly US military veterans are to begin a marathon three-week walk from Limerick to the most northerly point in Ireland this weekend to protest against what they claim are human rights abuses by the Irish authorities.
Veterans Ken Mayers (82), from New Mexico, and Tarak Kauff (77), New York, will begin their ‘Walk for Freedom’ outside Limerick Prison on Saturday morning to highlight the fact that they have been unable to travel home to their families for the past six months.
They have been awaiting trial for non-violent action at Shannon Airport in the West of Ireland on St Patrick's Day.
The two men were arrested at Shannon on March 17 when they tried to inspect an Omni International aircraft, which was on its way to Kuwait. The veterans believed it was carrying US troops and weapons in violation of international law.