From Ed Horgan, Ireland Veterans for PeaceTrial of Peace Activists Colm Roddy and Dave Donnellan
At Dublin Circuit Court on October 23, a jury of twelve Irish citizens acquitted peace activists Colm Roddy and Dave Donnellan of the charge of alleged criminal damage at Shannon Airport over four and a half years ago. The trial by jury, presided over by Judge Karen O’Connor, found both defendants not guilty.
They entered Shannon Airport on the morning of 25th May 2016 to search and investigate U.S. military aircraft that were being refuelled on their way to and from U.S. wars of aggression.
There were two U.S. Air Force aircraft at Shannon at the time of the incident. One was a U.S. air force Learjet C-21A aircraft registration number 84-0072 being guarded by an Irish army patrol, and the other was a U.S. air force Boeing C-32B aircraft registration number 02-4452 used by the United States special forces, and being guarded by a Garda patrol car.
Speaking after the trial, Colm Roddy said, “The result of this trial gives us no cause for celebration. Our peaceful nonviolent actions in May 2016 were undertaken to highlight Irish complicity and participation in U.S. wars in the Middle East that have caused the deaths of millions of people in the Middle East, including the deaths of up to one million children since the First Gulf War in 1991.”
Dave Donnellan said, “Our actions were faith-based. As Irish citizens we felt compelled as a matter of conscience to highlight Irish government complicity in war crimes, and it is a matter of deep regret to us that this complicity is still ongoing almost daily since 2001.”
The successful defence case was based on the argument that they had LAWFUL EXCUSE, or just cause, for their actions. In previous trials also relating to similar peace actions taken by five Catholic Workers, Deirdre Clancy, Nuin Dunlop, Karen Fallon, Damien Moran, and Ciaran O’Reilly in 2003, the jury also acquitted the five defendants, and the Court of Criminal Appeal overturned the conviction of Mary Kelly for damaging a U.N. Navy aircraft, also in 2003.
All these trials took an unduly long time to reach a conclusion at great inconvenience to all the defendants – justice delayed is justice denied – but it is the innocent people of the Middle East who are suffering the most due to these wars and Irish complicity in these wars. May those innocents who have been slaughtered rest in peace and may some justice and accountability be applied to those responsible for, and complicity in, these war crimes.
You can read more about the May 2016 action here.
Statement read out from the steps of the courthouse on October 23 by Dave Donnellan This case was never about justice – it was about punishment and cover up. Punishment for challenging the evil that is happening at Shannon Airport on a daily basis, and an attempt to cover up this reality by portraying peace activists as criminals. In this trial, for the first time in four and a half years, we were finally given the opportunity to challenge the evidence against us in open court. In the collapse of this trial, what has been exposed is the systematic failures of both the Gardai and the DPP to uphold local, Irish and international laws at Shannon Airport. Their decision to pursue this case was a political one to punish us for challenging U.S military use of Shannon Airport. Their decision to prosecute us over a hole in a fence measuring 450mm by 300mm was a shameful waste of national resources.
We went to Shannon Airport to witness to our faith in Jesus Christ and a God of life and love. In Shannon Airport the value of life is being desecrated on a daily basis. The permission given by successive Irish governments to the U.S. military to use Shannon Airport is a clear indication of the priority the Irish government gives to U.S. interests over the lives of Irish citizens and our brothers and sisters in the Middle East and elsewhere. Our faith-based witness at Shannon Airport was an attempt to reestablish the value of human life above all other considerations. The U.S. military has been responsible for the deaths of millions of people all over the world. There should be no place at any Irish airport for such a death-dealing machine. It is our fervent wish that Shannon Airport be returned for use as an exclusively civilian airport.
Ed Horgan’s daily reports during the trial:October 12
The trial of peace activists Colm Roddy and Dave Donnellan began in Dublin at the Circuit Court in Parkgate Street, Dublin on Monday 12 October 2020, over four and half years since they carried out a peace action at Shannon Airport. The trial got off to a slow start. It was postponed until 2 p.m. and the main item was the impanelling of the jury. Unusually the jury that was selected consists of eleven men and just one woman. The Judge, who is Judge Karen O’Connor, then announced that the trial itself will begin on Tuesday 13th Oct and will be moved to the Kings Inn at Constitution Hill for reasons of sufficient space. That address “Constitution Hill” seems appropriate given that breaches of the Constitution are what this case is partly about. Breaches of human rights are the main issue – like the totally unjustified killing of millions of people in the Middle East including over one million children. The prosecution, led by Barrister Tony McGillicuddy BL, raised some concerns about the t-shirt that Colm Roddy was wearing which supported refugees, saying “We Welcome Refugees to Ireland that were Created by Wars”, and Judge O’Connor said she would address this issue on Tuesday. The prosecution said that on Tuesday they intended to call six witnesses including airport employees, gardai and military personnel. The prosecution intends to call over 20 witnesses, so this trial could take some considerable time. Colm and Dave are charged with causing criminal damage to a fence at Shannon Airport and damage to the runway by writing on it. Colm and Dave entered Shannon Airport on 25th May 2016 to attempt to search and investigate U.S. military aircraft that were at the airport, or to seek to have these aircraft searched and investigated by gardai and security personnel. One of the aircraft was a U.S. air force Learjet C-21 and the other was a U.S. Air Force Boeing C-32B (757-23A), with registration number 02-4452 operated by the US Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), and appears to be used to support U.S. special forces and CIA operations.
October 13
The setting for today’s court was in the Kings Inns and it was unusually well laid out and appropriate given Covid 19 restrictions. If the case had been heard in usual Dublin Circuit court building the jury would have been in a separate room and on video link only, but today all were in the same large room socially distanced, etc. and speaker systems seemed to work fairly well also. So far Judge Karen O’Connor has been very fair and helpful towards the two defendants, Colm and Dave, and has fully explained the court process to them and is allowing them good scope to cross-examine and make their legal points as they arise. While its early days yet the trial has gone OK from the defence point of view. A transcript of the evidence in the court will be provided to the defence but they have to be careful not to make this public and in these court reports we will be equally careful not to compromise either side, while the trial is still going on.
Most of today was taken up by various gardai giving technical evidence, including detailed maps of Shannon Airport, photos of damage to the fence and crosses painted on the runway and other locations. There was a long session where a compilation of video evidence was played to the court. It was not of good quality and the fact that it showed only edited portions of various videos was questioned by the defendants. There was also cross-examination on the extent of the hole in the fence and this is likely to come up again later given the alleged costs of the repairs to this damage amounting to €3,500. Given that the total number of prosecution witnesses is likely to be in excess of 20, it is likely that this trial will run into next week.
From the defence point of view, it’s so far so good, but as pointed out already – it’s early days yet.
This is a tough challenge for Colm Roddy and Dave Donnellan, both of whom are conducting their own defence while they are up against a prosecution team of two barristers and one solicitor as well as a whole host of gardai witnesses.
Update:
The trial of peace activists Colm Roddy and Dave Donnellan continued today at the Kings Inns in Dublin. This report below on how things went is from the Irish Times. The headline, “Two ‘peace activists’ damaged runway at Shannon Airport, court hears” makes it sound like they used a bulldozer to dig up the runway, when what they did was just to spray paint a number of crucifixes or crosses on the runway.
Men allegedly asked military and gardaí to search U.S.-owned aeroplanes at airport
October 13, The Irish Times
by Declan Brennan
The men allegedly wanted to search two US-owned aircraft at Shannon Airport.
Two “peace activists” charged with damaging the fence and runway of Shannon Airport asked airport gardaí to search US-owned planes at the complex, their trial has heard.
Colm Roddy (78) of Bayside Walk, Dublin 13 and Dave Donnellan (60) of Reuben Street, Rialto, Dublin 8 have both pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to criminal damage of the perimeter fence and runway at Shannon Airport in Co Clare on May 5th, 2016.
Tony McGillicuddy BL, prosecuting, told the jury that the State alleges that their actions resulted in €3,500 worth of property damage.
Outlining the State’s case he said that in the early hours of the morning, at around 6am, the defendants allegedly used a bolt cutter to cut the fence and enter the airport complex.
He said they then used spray paint to paint a number of red crosses on a substation in the complex and on the runway before allegedly making their way towards a plane.
Corporal Thomas Dillon told the jury that he and other officers were on duty that night and were stationed beside a US plane. He told Mr McGillicuddy that “we stay on the ground until the plane takes off” and remain for some time after take off in case the plane needs to return to the airport.
He said that when he first saw two men approaching the plane at around 6am “I thought my eyes were playing tricks” and he picked up binoculars to view the men.
He said the shorter man was holding a flag and a banner with the words “US military out”. The taller man was holding a wooden cross and he told this man to halt in order to establish it wasn’t a weapon.
He said he warned both men to stop and that he and his colleagues had their weapons behind their backs at all times. He said he made contact with airport police who arrived and arrested the men.
The court heard that in his statement Cpl Dillon said “the protesters” were requesting both military and gardaí to search the plane.
In cross examination Mr Roddy, who is representing himself, asked the army officer “how do you feel about being given the duty of protecting the US war machinery at Shannon airport”.
Cpl Dillon said that he had no personal feelings and that “in the military, we obey orders”.
Mr Roddy submitted to Cpl Dillon that “the purpose of the Irish armed forces at Shannon is to ensure that peace activists like myself and Mr Donnellan don’t get near the American planes you are guarding to search or to damage it”.
The witness replied that the defendant needed to put this question to somebody in government.
In his opening address to the jury Mr McGillicuddy said that it is the State’s case that whatever the motives of the accused, they did not constitute “lawful excuse” for their alleged actions.
The trial continues before Judge Karen O’Connor and a jury.
October 14
Well, the trial did continue today with prosecution witnesses who were a combination of gardai and Shannon airport security personnel. It would be an understatement to say that there were a number of anomalies and even contradictions in the prosecution evidence so far that could be to the advantage of the defence.
As with my report from yesterday I will avoid going into specifics at this point but will post a copy of reporter Declan Brennan’s article. So far we are pleased with how the case is going. Judge Karen O’Connor continues to be very fair and correct in the manner in which she is dealing with the case and this is a welcome change from what peace activists were accustomed to in past trials that took place in Co Clare. The case is proceeding quite slowly so it is very likely that it will continue well into next week, unless there are some surprise developments.
Shannon Airport is ‘a legitimate military target’, court told
by Declan Brennan, Limerick Leader
October 14
Shannon Airport, pictured, is ‘a legitimate military target’ Dublin Circuit Court has heard
SHANNON Airport is “a legitimate military target” according to international law, a “peace activist” on trial for damaging the runway at Shannon Airport has told a court.
Colm Roddy (78) of Bayside Walk, Dublin 13 and Dave Donnellan (60) of Reuben Street, Rialto, Dublin have both pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Court to criminal damage of the perimeter fence and runway at Shannon Airport on May 5, 2016.
On day two of their trial, Sergeant Mark Brown told the jury that he had over 20 years experience as part of the airport police and his responsibility was to ensure the safety and security of the airport.
He told Mr Donnellan, who is representing himself, that he did not recall ever receiving any training in international law and the effect of the presence of an international military for the safety and security of the airport.
Asked if he was unaware that according to international law Shannon Airport is a legitimate military target for any opposing forces involved in conflicts with the US military, Sgt Brown replied “I’m aware of it now”.
Mr Donnellan asked if this fact put the airport “in a very vulnerable state”.
Sgt Brown replied that he had received training to deal with any aircraft or personnel that might pass through the airport. He said that his training includes plans to deal with major incidents.
Mr Donnellan asked Sgt Brown if the presence of the US military alongside civilians coming and going in the same airport with no restrictions of movement gave rise “to any special consideration”.
He said he and Mr Roddy “wandered through the airport for approximately three quarters of an hour” and “were never challenged”.
He said that it was only when he and Mr Roddy came very close to the US military Learjet aircraft that they were stopped.
“If instead of two civilians, armed with a crucifix, it was a unit from ISIS…would that not have far more serious implications for security of the airport,” Mr Donnellan asked. Sgt Brown said that he and his colleagues dealt with what had presented itself.
“This was a faith-based peace action to protect human life. If we had been an armed and dangerous terrorist, the laughable security arrangements at Shannon Airport would have provided no difficulty for us,” Mr Donnellan submitted. The witness replied that he did not hold any opinion on this.
The trial continues before Judge Karen O’Connor and a jury.
October 15
The Criminal Courts of Justice
Two peace activists who allegedly painted crucifixes onto the runway of Shannon airport refused to accept the potential danger to inbound flights by their actions, a court has heard.
Colm Roddy, 78, of Bayside Walk, Dublin 13 and Dave Donnellan, 60, of Reuben Street, Rialto, Dublin have both pleaded not guilty, at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, to causing criminal damage to the perimeter fence and the runway at Shannon Airport on May 5, 2016.
On day three of the trial Detective Sergeant Con Ryan, now retired, told the jury that he met both men in the terminal of Shannon Airport after they had been brought there by airport police who had met them on the runway.
Dt Sgt Ryan said that Mr Roddy “did most of the talking” and he was “complaining about Americans killing people in the Middle East and Syria”.
He said Mr Roddy told him that he and Mr Donnellan had gained access to the airfield by lifting the wire and getting in under a gate”. He said he wished to establish how the men had gained entry into the airport complex.
He said he tried to make the two men aware of the danger of animals entering the airfield through any breach of the perimeter fence and that this might cause a threat to incoming flights.
He said he also needed to know if the men had left any objects on the runway and the men said “they had left nothing airside”.
“I tried to get them to understand that we may have to consider diverting inbound flights,” and he told the jury that his concern was that objects or animals on the runway could affect the landing tyres or disrupt the landing in some other way.
He testified that he was concerned that there were “a couple of hundred souls on board” incoming passenger flights. He said the two men “would not accept the concerns I had raised” and “kept returning to the issue of US bombings”.
The court heard that when charged and cautioned with unlawful criminal damage at the airport Mr Roddy told gardaí: “I had lawful excuse. I was trying to prevent a much greater illegality which is ongoing at Shannon airport”.
The trial continues before Judge Karen O’Connor and a jury
October 16
The Trial of peace activists Colm Roddy and Dave Donnellan continues at the Kings Inns in Dublin. So far it is going well and Colm and Dave are doing a very good job of defending themselves with the help their advisers Sean Ryan and Raymond Walker.
This report below by Declan Brennan in Limerick Leader does not give the full story, nor does the headline.
The issues raised by retired Det Garda Ryan about the dangers of animals such as foxes entering through the small hole in the fence and thereby endangering planes landing at Shannon ignores the reality that there are very often foxes and hares rambling around the airside and runways at Shannon Airport, and being on Shannon Estuary, large birds are also frequent visitors.
The trial continued on Thursday and Friday with evidence sometimes very confusing from prosecution witnesses concerning the times are reality of the arrest of Colm and Dave at the airport on morning of 25 May 2016. Problem is that there were contradictions on exactly when and how they were arrested and on the charges that were brought against them. Just cause is one of the main planks of their defence but issues of “reasonable doubt” (many reasonable doubts) are also arising. Issues were also raised about the €3,500 alleged costs of repairing a small hole in the perimeter chain-link fence. The trial will continue on Monday and is expected to last several more days, unless we are all locked down or locked up in the meantime!!
A further updated report by Declan Brennan in this evening’s Limerick Leader on the trial of peace activists Colm Roddy and Dave Donnellan
Today’s Friday court session ended at 1 pm.
Head of airport police denies peace activist’s assertion that security at Shannon is “laughable”
by Declan Brennan
The head of airport police at Shannon Airport has told a trial that he has never previously had reason to consider that possibility that the airport has become a legitimate military target.
Pat O’Brien was giving evidence at the trial of “peace activists” Colm Roddy, 78, and Dave Donnellan, 60, who are alleged to have broken into the airfield by cutting a fence and painted red crucifixes on the runway.
Mr Roddy of Bayside Walk, Dublin and Mr Donnellan of Reuben Street, Rialto, Dublin have both pleaded not guilty to causing criminal damage to the perimeter fence and runway at Shannon Airport on May 5, 2016. (note this should read May 25, 2016)
On day four of their trial, at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Mr O’Brien told the jury that he inspected the fence sometime after the alleged incident. He said it appeared to him to be cut and folded back so that somebody could get through it.
He said emergency repairs were carried out and these costs around €300. He said the total estimated costs of complete repairs was €3,500.
Mark Reidy, maintenance manager at the airport, told Mr Roddy the costs were estimated because the programme of works was ongoing and that “that section of the fence has not been yet.
He said a suggestion that “you’ve spent no money on repairing the fence” was correct.
Cross examining Mr O’Brien, Mr Donnellan read from a 2015 US Department of Defence document entitled “Law of war manual”.
The document states that “should a neutral State be unable, or fail for any reason, to prevent violations of its neutrality by the forces of one belligerent entering or passing through its territory, the other belligerent State may be justified in attacking the enemy forces on the neutral State’s territory”.
Asked if he was aware of this position Mr O’Brien said that he saw it produced in court earlier this week.
Mr Donnellan put it to the witness that the fact that Shannon Airport had become “a legitimate target” was a matter of grave concern. Mr O’Brien replied: “It’s not something I would previously had to consider”.
Mr O’Brien said the airport has plans to respond to major incidents including aircraft crashes, bomb scares, chemical spills and terrorist attacks.
He said he disagreed with the assertion that the security at Shannon Airport was “laughable”.
The trial continues on Monday before Judge Karen O’Connor and a jury.
October 19
In the trial of peace activists Colm Roddy and Dave Donnellan today at the Kings inn, in Dublin this report by Declan Brennan in the Limerick Leader gives an accurate “rendition” of the original interviewing of Dave Donnellan four and half years ago at Shannon Garda Station on the night of the peace action 25 May 2016.
“Peace activist told gardai he was ‘morally bound’ to challenge Shannon Airport’s use by US military
The trial of a “peace activist” for allegedly damaging an airport runway has heard he told gardaí that he was “morally bound…to challenge the use of the airport by the US military”.
Colm Roddy, 78, and Dave Donnellan, 60, are alleged to have cut through a perimeter fence at Shannon airport to gain entry to the airfield and to have then painted crucifixes on the the runway.
Mr Roddy of Bayside Walk, Dublin and Mr Donnellan of Reuben Street, Rialto, Dublin have both pleaded not guilty to criminal damage of the fence and runway at Shannon Airport on May 5, 2016.
On day five of their trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court the jury heard details of garda interviews of the two defendants after their arrest at the airport on that morning.
Asked to explain the reason for his presence at the airport Mr Donnellan told gardaí: “I felt morally and legally bound to challenge the use of Shannon airport by the US military.
“It was a faith based action to query the use of Shannon airport by US military and navy who have been responsible for serious human rights abuses in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and many other places.”
He said his actions were inspired by his Christian faith and said he brought a wooden cross to the airport “because it represents the solidarity of God with all innocent victims of violence”.
Garda David Laing asked the defendant to explain how he believed he was “legally bound” to carry out “the action”.
The court heard Mr Donnellan replied that another country pursuing military means “is not allowed to use Irish facilities… in contravention of our neutrality”.
He said that he requested that army personnel and gardaí at Shannon airport that morning to search the US military plane on the tarmac and they declined to do so.
“I believe that these security forces are in gross dereliction of their duty to prevent the further loss of innocent life,” he told Garda Laing.
Garda Laing put it to the defendant that his actions could have resulted in serious harm to himself or other innocent parties.
Mr Donnellan replied: “our faith based intention is the prevention of further loss of life in foreign countries” and that nobody was hurt by his actions.
Garda Laing that this was “more by luck than by design”.
“You couldn’t have known that Shannon airport could have been used as the emergency airport for the Atlantic and your actions could have closed down the airport,” Garda Laing said.
During interview, Mr Roddy told gardaí that he came to Shannon “to act according to my conscience and a sense of duty to my fellow human beings”.
He said that he had “for 14 years protested peacefully, written to Government, politicians, ministers, seeking an end to the abuse at Shannon facilitating the killing of innocent people in many countries”.
He said his purpose was to request army and Garda personnel who were guarding the US Airforce Learjet at the airport that day to search it for whatever part of the “murderous machinery” it may have been carrying.
He agreed that he was carrying a banner with the words “US Military and CIA out of Shannon Airport” written on it.
Mr Donnellan said that Ireland is bound to uphold the Hague convention on human rights convention and “this means in practice that the US military going though Shannon Airport need to be searched on a regular basis.
He said there is “incontrovertible evidence that the US military is involved in humanitarian abuses on its way through Shannon Airport to places like Iraq and Afghanistan and Syria where 100s of 1000s of innocent men women and children have been killed”.
“For this reason I felt I was legally bound to ensure that Shannon airport was not party to these abuses”.
In a later interview, Garda Laing put it to Mr Donnellan that his actions were “absolutely reckless for yourselves, the people working in the airport and people living locally” and the consequences could have been catastrophic”.
He told Mr Donnellan “the locals here feel that your actions are not in any way of favour to them”.
Mr Donnellan replied that “transforming a peaceful civilian airport into a military based…puts the lives of airport staff, passengers and local inhabitants at risk.
“I believe the decision to allow the US military to use Shannon airport is what is truly reckless putting the lives of so many people in so many countries at risk.”
The trial continues at Kings Inns in Dublin city centre before Judge Karen O’Connor and a jury.
October 20
Just a quick update on the trial of Colm Roddy and Dave Donnellan taking place at Dublin Circuit Court at the Kings Inn in Dublin. The prosecution case against them concluded today, with Judge Karen O’Connor explaining that it was up to the prosecution to prove their case on the charges that the alleged damage caused by the defendants was of a criminal nature. The defense will argue that any damage caused was fully justified and therefore not criminal. Tomorrow is another day, but the expectations are that the trial is approaching its final stages.
May justice be done not only in this important case, but also towards all the people across the Middle East who have been victims of the totally unjustified series of wars that have devastated Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Palestine and other countries. All of these wars have been facilitated by U.S. military use of Shannon Airport and that is what this case is about.
October 21
The trial of Colm Roddy and Dave Donnellan is now running well into its second week at the Dublin Circuit Court. The prosecution has completed its case. Today’s hearing was taken up with applications by the Defence in the absence of the jury that the prosecution have failed to prove their case against the defendants, and other legal technicalities. Judge Karen O’Connor will rule tomorrow morning on these applications, and depending on her ruling the case will either be dismissed, or will continue with the Defence possibly calling some witnesses and/or giving defence closing statements to the jury. The jury will then retire to discuss and give their verdict. Let’s all hope that justice will be done.
October 22
Update on Colm Roddy and Dave Donnellan’s trial today, Thursday. Yesterday Colm and Dave made a number of applications to the court in the absence of the jury that the prosecution had not proven the case and that there were irregularities in their arrests. This morning the judge gave her detailed responses and ruled that the case should proceed. The defence decided that they would not call any defence witnesses but they did give closing statements to the jury. This meant that the Prosecution did not have the opportunity to make a prosecution closing statement. This was followed this afternoon by Judge Karen O’Connor briefing the jury on the legal principles for juries in criminal cases, and she then began giving a very detailed summing up of the evidence. This will continue for some time tomorrow morning and then hopefully the jury will retire to consider their verdict. There may be a decision by tomorrow evening, otherwise the trial will continue into its third week after the long weekend. Let’s hope there is a just outcome from this trial, but let’s remember also that this will not bring back to life all the millions of innocent people who have died, and will not hold anyone to account in Ireland for Irish complicity in these wars through U.S. military use of Shannon Airport. Did this complicity in wars save jobs at Shannon? Ask Ryanair and Aer Lingus did they care about jobs at Shannon when they decided to move or cancel flight connections from Shannon Airport. How many lives lost in the Middle East for every job saved at Shannon by U.S. military use of Shannon???
Let’s remember the response of U.S. secretary of state when asked if the deaths of over 500,000 Iraqi children due to U.S. and U.N. imposed sanctions on Iraq in the mid 1990s: “Yes” she said, “I think it was worth it”. Does the same apply to jobs at Shannon and U.S. FDI foreign direct investment in Ireland??????
Meanwhile, U.S. military abuse of Shannon Airport continues over the past 24 hours. Omni air n234AX arrived at Shannon last night from Sheik Isa air base in Bahrain, refuelled and took off for Robert Gray air base in Texas at 2:11 a.m.
Omni air N351AX arrived at Shannon last night at 10:50 p.m., coming from Saudi Arabia and RAF Lakenheath UK, refuelled and took off at at 1:09 a.m. also for Robert Gray air base in Texas.
Omni air n829AS arrived at Shannon this afternoon at 14:11 p.m. coming from North Carolina.
Will the blood money from these U.S. military flights help to save jobs at Shannon Airport??