Marine tells of 'carte blanche' to kill

A former US marine has told a jury that he was given "carte blanche" to kill and was told to "shoot first and ask questions later" while serving in Iraq following the outbreak of war in 2003.

Jimmy Massey was giving evidence in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial of five antiwar protesters accused of criminal damage of a US aeroplane at Shannon Airport in February 2003.

Mr Massey was a platoon sergeant in the US Marines stationed in Kuwait in the lead up to the outbreak of the Iraq war and served there following the invasion until May 15, 2003.

The accused have pleaded not guilty to two counts each of causing damage without lawful excuse to a naval plane, property of the United States Government and to glass door panels, property of Aer Rianta at Shannon Airport on February 3, 2003.

They are Ciaron O'Reilly, an Australian national and Damien Moran, aged 25, both of South Circular Road, Rialto; Nuin Dunlop, aged 34, a US citizen and counsellor living on Walkinstown Road, Dublin; Karen Fallon, aged 35, a Scottish marine biologist living on South Circular Road, Rialto; and Deirdre Clancy, aged 35, a copy editor of Castle Avenue, Clontarf, Dublin.

Mr Massey told Mr Brendan Nix SC, defending Ms Fallon, that prior to invasion he was briefed of the terms of the Geneva Convention and rules of engagement. He said he was told that intelligence reports "painted every Iraqi as a potential terrorist".

In response to Mr Nix’s query as to what was their "firing policy". Mr Massey replied: "To shoot first and ask questions later. We were given carte blanche to kill."