Probe after graffiti sprayed on Department of Foreign Affairs

Irish police are investigating after graffiti was sprayed on the front of the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin.

Red paint was splattered on the facade of the building, along with messages against facilitating the US military to use Shannon Airport in the south-west of Ireland and a pro-Palestinian solidarity slogan.

The writing included: “US military out of Shannon” and “search the planes”.

A spokesman for the Department said it was aware of a “security incident” outside the Iveagh House building early on Friday morning.

He said the Irish police service, An Garda Siochana, is “actively following up on the matter”.

A spokesman for the gardai confirmed an investigation had been launched.

“The alarm was raised shortly after 4am following paint damage to the building’s front facade.

“The scene has undergone forensic examination and inquiries are ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Pearse Street Garda Station at 01 666 9000 or the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111.”

Irish premier Micheal Martin said the incident is “shocking”.

“If there’s one department in government – and I served as minister for Foreign Affairs – that has led the way in respect of a very solid, informed approach to the Middle East and the Palestinians (it) is the Department of Foreign Affairs.

“It’s beggars belief that people would engage in criminal damage to the people’s building. It belongs to the Irish people, and I think there’s some extreme elements clearly responsible for that.

“There’s no need for it. Ireland is taking a leading position on this.

“Fundamentally, Israel needs to call off to slaughter and stop the slaughter. That’s what’s required.

“There’s no point in attacking the Department of Foreign Affairs building or officials in (the) Department of Foreign Affairs. What’s required is Israel to stop the slaughter. It is appalling what’s happened.

“We’ve all read and heard one family, one doctor losing nine of her children. I mean, that is slaughter. This has to stop.

“The entire world needs to be unequivocal and saying to Israel, stop this.”

US flights stopping off at Shannon Airport to refuel have long been an issue of contention in Ireland, as politicians and activists raise concerns that it makes Ireland complicit in US military actions.

Protests have been held at the airport over the Iraq War, Western intervention in Syria, and more recently over US support for Israel during its military operation in Gaza.

In recent months, there have been reports that flights carrying munitions to weapons manufacturers and contractors in Israel have travelled through Irish airspace.

Permission is needed from the Irish transport minister to carry munitions over Ireland.

Earlier this year, Mr Martin said landing facilities have been made available to the US and other foreign militaries for decades.

He said: “Arrangements for foreign military aircraft to land in Irish airports are governed by strict conditions, including stipulations that the aircraft is unarmed; that it carries no arms, ammunition or explosives; that it does not engage in intelligence gathering; and that the flight in question does not form part of a military exercise or operation.”

Mr Martin, who made the comments while he was deputy premier and minister for foreign affairs added: “Ireland’s traditional policy of military neutrality is fully consistent with foreign military and state aircrafts being allowed to enter Irish sovereign territory under certain circumstances. ”

Ireland is also examining a report that a flight carrying deportees from the US to Africa stopped at Shannon Airport.