Drew Harris misled Oireachtas committee over illegal Israel weapons flights
The garda commissioner misled an Oireachtas committee about his knowledge of airlines illegally using Irish airspace to transport weapons to Israel.
Drew Harris falsely claimed at the public accounts committee last week he's “not aware” of any reports concerning the flights – even though he was emailed directly last November after gardaí ignored four criminal complaints. This email was acknowledged on his behalf at the time.
Despite the guards being repeatedly made aware of these illegal flights, Harris said they “had no information" that could lead to checks of the airlines involved.
An Garda Síochána refuses to investigate airlines illegally transporting munitions of war through Irish territory to Israel. The guards do however use air navigation law to arrest and prosecute activists opposing the US military’s use of Shannon Airport.
‘Not aware’
On 23, 24, 25 and 30 October 2024 The Ditch wrote to taoiseach Simon Harris and the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB).
The correspondence said four FedEx flights from Memphis to Cologne carrying F-35 combat jet parts to Nevatim military air base in Israel were to enter Irish airspace without authorisation from the minister for transport.
The carriage of munitions of war through Irish airspace without permission from the minister is a criminal offence punishable by up to three years' imprisonment.
Gardaí were provided with tracking numbers for each shipment that had been flagged as International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) goods.
The Ditch contacted Drew Harris on 1 November, 2024 after the GNECB didn’t respond and the flights were allowed through Irish sovereign airspace.
“We note a response has not been forthcoming and are concerned that An Garda Síochána is not taking these allegations seriously,” said The Ditch.
Separately, on the same day, The Ditch copied the commissioner on a fifth email informing the GNECB that another FedEx flight carrying F-35 parts, flagged as ITAR goods, to Israel was due to illegally pass through Irish airspace. Again tracking numbers were provided for the shipments.
The email was acknowledged on behalf of the garda commissioner later that day.
“On behalf of the superintendent, garda corporate services office, please be advised that your correspondence to the commissioner on the 1st of November has been received,” said the email sent on behalf of Superintendent J. Molony of the Garda Corporate Services.
Drew Harris however, questioned by Sinn Féin TD Cathy Bennett, told the public accounts committee last Thursday that he isn’t aware of these reports.
“The commissioner will be aware of media reports of certain civilian airlines carrying weapons of war or components bound for Israel in support of the genocide of the people of Gaza,” she said, asking, “Does An Garda Síochána have any concerns that arms are being routinely smuggled through sovereign airspace?”
Harris said he was “not aware of any reports made to us for us to investigate”.
Bennet asked the commissioner if gardaí had ever “checked any of these airlines” to which Harris replied that they “had no information that would lead us to undertake such checks”.
The assistant commissioner at the Garda National Crime & Security Intelligence Service later indicated to The Ditch that gardaí wouldn’t investigate the complaints and suggested the matter was a national security issue.
“An Garda Síochána does not comment on issues related to national security… We advise that the Department of Justice and the Department of Transport are the regulatory authorities with overall responsibility for Irish airspace,” said the assistant commissioner in an email dated 7 January, 2025.
Harris has been contacted for comment.