Activists in court following break-in

Two pro-Palestine activists have appeared before Cork District Court after breaking into the offices of a company linked with the supply of technologies to Israel.

Dr Kellie McConnell and Myles Murphy were arrested on Monday after gaining entry to US firm Collins Aerospace Cork’s premises in Penrose Wharf Business Centre.

The two are understood to be members of the Palestine Action Éire group. On Monday morning, the group released a statement claiming the two members had gained entry to the company’s research and development facility where they “broke walls, windows, and equipment”. They are also understood to have dropped a banner from a third floor balcony where they engaged in an eight hour lock-in before being arrested by gardaí.

A garda report read: “The man and woman arrested in connection with an incident that occurred in the Penrose Wharf area of Cork city yesterday, 13 October, have now been charged.

“Both are scheduled to appear before a sitting of the Cork City District Court later this (Tuesday) morning.”

Collins Aerospace is an American multinational aviation and defence technology company.

Its parent company RTX, formerly as Raytheon Technologies, is the world's second biggest aerospace and defence company. RTX is known to have supplied defence technologies and equipment to Israel.

Collins Aerospace engages in both military and non-military business.

Representatives for the firm have previously stated that the Cork branch has absolutely no involvement in the development of defence technologies sold to Israel.

However, pro-Palestinian activist groups have repeatedly called for the firm to be evicted from its offices in the Penrose Wharf Business Centre in Cork city due to the firms ties with RTX.

The site has been the subject of multiple pro-Palestinian protests over the past two years, with the most recent taking place late last month.

The Cork Independent reached out to RTX for response, however none was received by time of print.