Diplomatic Row After RAF Plane Makes Unapproved Landing In Ireland

British military chiefs are facing a dressing down over the unapproved landing of RAF aircraft in the Irish Republic.

The diplomatic spat was revealed after a Hercules transport plane landed at Shannon Airport, Co Clare, on December 29 without seeking clearance from the Dublin government in advance.

Ireland's foreign affairs minister Charlie Flanagan said:

"The [Irish] government views breaches of the procedures set down for the granting of permission for such landings with the utmost seriousness."

"I have instructed my officials to discuss the matter further with the British Embassy, with a view to ensuring that correct procedures are followed in future."

The British Embassy in Dublin told Irish officials that the RAF Hercules landed in Shannon to refuel.

As Ireland is a neutral country, permission should have been sought in advance and assurances given that the aircraft was unarmed, carried no cargo of arms, ammunition or explosives and that it was not on an intelligence-gathering mission or a military exercise or operation.

British diplomats told Irish officials there had been a "communication breakdown". Mr Flanagan added:

"The embassy has confirmed in writing that the purpose of the landing was refuelling, and that the flight was unarmed; carried no arms, ammunition or explosives; and was not engaged in intelligence-gathering nor formed part of a military exercise or operation."

21 other RAF flights followed the correct procedures to land in Ireland last year.

Clare Daly, an Independent TD (member of the Irish Parliament) from Dublin who campaigns against the use of Shannon by foreign military including the US, revealed the information in a parliamentary question and called for closer scrutiny of NATO planes in Ireland. She said:

"It is utterly shocking that a foreign military aircraft landed without permission from the Department of Foreign Affairs on Irish soil."

"This is a total affront to our sovereignty and any notion of neutrality.

"The minister should be before the Dail (Irish parliament), apologising and assuring us of the measures he has put in place to prevent a recurrence," she said.

Cover image a file photo of a Hercules transport plane.

More: Ireland FA Faces Disciplinary Action Over Easter Rising Logo