Peace vigil at Ireland' Shannon Airport

Sinn Fein Senator Paul Gavan said dead war planes directed to Yemen are stopping in Ireland in violation of the country's neutrality

Pressure is growing for the use of Shannon Airport by US military forces to end in light of the latest bombing campaigns in the US-backed war in Yemen.

A coalition of states led by Saudi Arabia has been carrying out airstrikes, one of which hit a bus carrying children in northern Yemen last week, killing 29 children who were on their way back from a picnic.

It is latest atrocity in a horrific war being waged by the coalition. Sinn Fein Senator Paul Gavan has said there is a direct line from the atrocities back to Shannon Airport.

"The US provides logistical and weapons support to the Saudis," he said. 

"US contracted military planes leaving Shannon regularly travel to states belonging to that Coalition -- states such as Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan and the UAE, as well as Saudi Arabia itself.

"We also know from figures released under freedom of information that hundreds of permits for military munitions of war were approved by our government last year, with many of these planes heading to these same destinations.

"Did the missile that blew up these children pass through Shannon? It's quite possible. Either way it's a shameful practice and a betrayal of the principles of neutrality."