Letter published on harassment of information tables

galway | rights, freedoms and repression | news report Monday November 03, 2003 20:32 by Kieran Cunnane - Defend Free Speech, Assembly and Activity kierancunnane at eircom dot net 091 770067

Letter to Editor published in 3 local newspapers on the harassment of information tables by the authorities. Several groups and political parties got together on this and endorsed.

Dear Editor,

We the undersigned wish to make a public statement, backing Defend Free Speech, Assembly and Activity. We will not be bullied off the streets of Galway. In recent times, a Community Warden has been threatening groups who give out information on the streets with removal of their tables and with calling the guards. It is likely that this warden is being directed from officials in City Hall. The road traffic act 1993, Sections 70 and 71 have been used as the justification for these latest assaults on democracy. If these particular laws had any clout, they would have been enforced in this context many times since their inception in 1993. They have not. Indeed, although they are National Laws, none of our groups have heard of their application anywhere else in the country. They are designed for the open road and traffic hazard situations caused mainly by trees, branches, shrubbery and farm machinery. Now, having been dug up in an attempt to silence voices of opposition, their attempted use is being inappropriately applied to a Pedestrian Street in Galway. We declare that we have lawful authority to give out information under Section 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human rights, and under the European Convention of Human Rights.
Another method being used by the authorities is that, when permission is requested, insurance of €6.5 Million is sought. Reading through the Road Traffic Act there is no mention of any insurance. Where this ludicrous figure has come from is not known; suffice to say it would be laughed out of any court. Are fold out, portable wallpaper tables on pedestrian streets a hazard capable of causing millions of personal injury ? Has anyone ever complained that a table caused a hazard since Galway’s streets became pedestrianised ? Indeed, the streets are already insured, so why in any event would there be a need for double insurance ? Going forward, permission will not be requested, unless our groups see a valid concern or reason for doing so, due in part to this ludicrous demand, but also because it is clear from International Law that it is not required.
The Community Warden did recently actually call the guards on a Galway Fair Trade Group. Ironically, this campaigner was giving out her information just over a week after the City Council passed a motion to endorse Fair Trade shops and products. Groups have in the past consulted members of the Gardaí, and were told that they were not breaking any laws. The warden’s action is in contrast, dragging the Gardaí into this issue. However, legal advice has been provided from several quarters, and we all will be standing up to any attempts to push us off the streets or to remove our tables. We will follow the full due legal process with anyone who threatens our rights.
We are stating loud and clear for all to hear, that we will not be bullied off our streets.

Yours,
Dette McLoughlin (Chairperson Defend Free Speech, Assembly and Activity),
Sean Dunleavy (Spokesperson, Socialist Worker’s Party),
Marian Brady (Secretary, Galway Green Party),
Collette Connolly (PRO, Galway Labour Party),
Daniel Callinan (Secretary, Galway Sinn Fein),
Kieran Cunnane (Chairperson, Galway for a Safe Environment),
Nuria Dunne (Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign),
John Cunningham (Convenor, Galway Alliance against War),
Niall O’ Brolcháin (Galway Environmental Alliance),
Brendan Smith (Sunnyvale Gardens),
Geraldine McDermott (Galway Fair Trade Group).