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Great Barrier Reef via Shutterstock

US jets drop bombs on Australia's Great Barrier Reef

Officials from both the US and Australia have said there was no harm done to the environment.

US FIGHTER JETS dropped four unarmed bombs on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef in an “emergency jettison” during a training exercise, officials said Sunday, ruling out any risk to the public or environment.

The US 7th Fleet said two Harrier aircraft dropped the ordnance on the iconic reef’s marine park off the Queensland coast on Tuesday.

“The selected emergency jettison area was in a deep channel away from the reef to minimize the possibility of reef damage,” the US 7th Fleet said in a statement.

“It is approximately 50 to 60 metres deep and does not pose a hazard to shipping or navigation.”

An Australian Defence Force spokesman told Australian Associated Press that the bombs posed “minimal risk or threat to the public, the marine environment or civilian shipping transiting the reef area”.

“Defence is working closely with the US military, the Australian government and environmental organisations to ensure there is no danger… now or in the future,” he said.

US and Australian officials are seeking to issue an appropriate navigation notice until charts can be updated showing the location of the unexploded ordnance, the 7th Fleet said.

The two AV-8B Harrier planes had intended to drop the bombs on a range on a nearby island but were unsuccessful despite several attempts.

“After being unable to expend their ordnance during a planning training mission, and having insufficient fuel to reach their pre-designated jettison area, the pilots jettisoned the ordnance in an unarmed condition on July 16,” the 7th fleet said.

The fleet said each Harrier jettisoned one BDU 45, which are inert ordnance, and one GBU 12, which were dropped in an unarmed state.

About 28,000 Australian and US military are involved in training exercise Talisman Saber in Queensland, which began on 15 July and ends on 5 August.

(C) AFP 2013

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    Mute Peter
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    Sep 3rd 2015, 8:11 PM

    Someone thinks about what they know about this brutal murder or what someone very close to them knows about it every night before they sleep, hoping it will be gone when they wake up, but it won’t have gone & it never will. If it’s you, her family have suffered enough, help them.

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    Mute Joe Conlon
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    Sep 3rd 2015, 8:02 PM

    Hard to believe that it’s been 16 years since her murder.

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    Mute Suzie Sunsine
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    Sep 3rd 2015, 8:11 PM

    it must be so hard for the family knowing that this man was never brought to justice . wonder if they’ve looked into a certain person that was recently locked up for the murder of another young woman. 16 years ago ? he would have been quite a young guy then .

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    Mute Joe Conlon
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    Sep 3rd 2015, 8:12 PM

    @Suzie, I reckon that a lot of people are wondering the same as you.

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    Mute Christine Hanway
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    Sep 3rd 2015, 8:14 PM

    I seen this headline an just thought the exact same… These “type” of killers now being caught shud always be looked into for past unsolved murders alike…

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    Mute Peter
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    Sep 3rd 2015, 8:21 PM

    The original detective heading the case was interviewed recently & ruled out any involvement by that freak.

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    Mute Meehawwl O'Buachailla
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    Sep 4th 2015, 1:12 AM

    I have it on very good authority that the cops know exactly who did it but have been unable to nail him as someone provided a false alibi for him. This is the reason for the annual appeal as per above.

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    Mute Suzie Sunsine
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    Sep 4th 2015, 1:19 AM

    I don’t know how that person can live with themselves , to provide a false alibi and keep quiet all these years .

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    Mute Meehawwl O'Buachailla
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    Sep 4th 2015, 1:27 AM

    His girlfriend I believe.

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    Mute Suzie Sunsine
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    Sep 4th 2015, 1:30 AM

    she’s probably terrified of him or she loves him so much and doesn’t want to lose him so she’ll do anything for him ! either way she’s an idiot !

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    Mute Andrew Matheson
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    Sep 4th 2015, 1:58 AM

    Heard this as well.

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    Mute Joan Featherstone
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    Sep 4th 2015, 6:48 AM

    Heard that too!

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    Mute Rashers Tierney
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    Sep 3rd 2015, 9:03 PM

    Somebody knows. In the name o Jaysus, give it up – give this family some peace. How do you live with yourself? Cut the crap and do the right thing.

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    Mute Fiyoyo
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    Sep 3rd 2015, 10:08 PM

    the cops know who killed her but they can’t get enough evidence and most likely someone is protecting him. Apparently he was a regular to that pub. No one I know will walk down there alone, not even in the day time

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    Mute Neal Ireland Hello
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    Sep 4th 2015, 5:59 AM

    If they “can’t get enough evidence”, then they don’t “know” who killed her, they just have a theory.

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    Mute Kathleen Henderson
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    Sep 3rd 2015, 10:01 PM

    Someone knows something for sure…..that someone told at least one other person….for sure….bragging is part of killing. …If that one other person is half way decent ….even send an anonymous tip to the GARDAI please….that family…..bless and save us…no one should suffer what they have…..If you know anything…..TALK NOW PLEASE.

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    Mute John
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    Sep 3rd 2015, 8:25 PM

    Jesus she was only 17 and she was working late, going to the pub and then on to a nightclub?

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    Mute Peter
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    Sep 3rd 2015, 8:32 PM

    @john… Sad comment.

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    Mute John
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    Sep 3rd 2015, 8:35 PM

    Why? Legally she was still a child that should have been doing none of these things but then again it is Ireland where there aremany laws and very little justice.

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    Mute Jean Keely
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    Sep 3rd 2015, 8:37 PM

    Yes John that’s what 17 year olds do, it’s called living and someone evil
    took that away from her.

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    Mute Peter
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    Sep 3rd 2015, 8:48 PM

    @john…. Sadder comment.

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    Mute VinHeffer89
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    Sep 3rd 2015, 9:39 PM

    Don’t blame the victim.
    That’s cold.

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    Mute John
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    Sep 3rd 2015, 9:52 PM

    @VinHeffer89
    Who is blaming the victim??? Where did you read that?

    There are many people who could be blamed but Raonaid is most certainly NOT one of them.
    1st would be the perpetrator who is evil beyond belief and then you might look at the Judiciary and the Minister for Justice who have allowed a situation develop where there is active support for criminals at every hands turn (free legal aid, soft sentencing, poor laws etc) while the victims are frequently forgotten.

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    Mute Suzie Sunsine
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    Sep 4th 2015, 12:41 AM

    why question what she doing then and quoting her age ?

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    Mute John
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    Sep 4th 2015, 3:15 AM

    @Suzy
    I had remembered the case and the bits about Scott’s bar but didn’t realise she was a child, her age was mentioned in the above report. There is nothing in what I said or indeed have ever said that puts blame on her or ANY crime victims in Ireland.
    Does this satisfy you?

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    Mute Neal Ireland Hello
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    Sep 4th 2015, 6:05 AM

    All John is trying to say, admittedly in a cackhanded way, is that a young adult that age shouldn’t be going out to pubs with her friends and should instead be imprisoned at home until the third hand strikes midnight on the morning of her eighteenth birthday, the moment at which, everybody know, we all suddenly turn into butterflies.

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    Mute Fiyoyo
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    Sep 4th 2015, 11:04 AM

    did you not work or drink in a pub when you were 17?! Times were different back then!

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    Mute shouldweallbe
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    Sep 3rd 2015, 11:12 PM

    Is it defo a male? Ye all seem so sure .(awaits link to murder stats by gender link)

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    Mute Suzie Sunsine
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    Sep 4th 2015, 12:37 AM

    witnesses heard her telling a man to leave her alone

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    Mute Banana Rama
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    Sep 3rd 2015, 9:39 PM

    @John What is wrong with you?

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