arrestees
dublin |
summit mobilisations |
news report 
Sunday May 02, 2004 21:18
by backup
whats happening to the people at cloverhill
right, a mate of mine was arrested last night, he was at the front so technically he was fair game but he was DEFINITELY completely non-violent. neither I, his parents or any of his mates have heard from him so i don't know if he got to make a phone call. the legal advice team (thanks by the way) told us that there was a special sitting at a court last night starting around 11 and going on for quite a while. the haste with which people were brought before the judge meant that the gardai didn't get to verify addresses leaving the judge with no option but to remand the majority of them in custody in cloverhill until WEDNESDAY. by all accounts the judge was pretty pissed off at having to deal with this shite all night which probably didn't help matters. had the gardai taken the time to verify his address last night, my friend would probably be out on bail now (bail was set at 500 + 500 independent surety). bank holiday today and tomorrow means that there's definitely no chance of anything happening til tuesday and even then its unlikely. I believe (not certain though) that most people were only charged with relatively minor offences such as public disorder and threatening behaviour etc. so could expect punishments along the lines of a caution/fine/probation for first offence. I m sure he'll be fine but its very worrying to know that he's been incarcerated for 3/4 days for a minor offence and has been unable to contact a friend or a relative. he doesn't know who knows about what happened or when he'll be released..
just posting this for the benefit of anyone whose wondering whats happening to those arrested. if anyone has any more info about their progress let us know.
Comments (14 of 14)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14Hi there - we've heard our mate's been arrested in Ireland and we're sat back here in Brighton wondering what we can do about it. Could anyone provide a contact for the legal support team and anyone who may be providing support (ie bringing them biscuits, books, fags etc n keeping spirits up) cos we currently have no contact with him.
Many thanks,
jonny
Hi folks,
Dunno if this helps but Indymedia gave me a 'bust card' leaflet and the number for a legal support team: 086 0691402
Stick 00353 and drop the 0 before the 8 if dialling from england
Hi i hope your friend is alright this is the legal team number i have 086 069 1402.
I hope your mates are ok.
If your mate is in clover hill I would worry.
They don't take kindly to english trouble makers.
Some peeler battoned me on the front line and I required stitches to the head.Two of my mates got pulled-no one has heard from them-word has it they have thus far been denied the right to legal representation and to a phonecall.They have been remanded until Wednesday-clearly an attempt to keep them off the scene for reclaim the streets and other related protests.
I hope they through away the key, and he gets it up the ass in prison, provided he dosent like it
the wing has been closed off just for protesters.
and of serious injuries?
Two DGN members attended court last night in Cloverhill to observe. We didn't arrive in time for the first few cases. The sitting lasted until nearly 4am.
Most charges were made under Sections 6 & 8 of the Public Order Act, which I think are failing to comply with the directions of a Garda and a breach of the Peace. At least two were charged with Section 4, ie of being drunk in a public place. One man was charged with stealing a Garda's cap.
Many of them were granted bail but obviously could not fulfill the criteria at the hour of the morning. Therefore they remained in custody. Most of the accused were Irish (90% of the cases we sat through)
Some of the charged were confused as to the proceedure and their rights and occassionaly seemed quite intimidated by the whole event. The judge was minimal in assisting them in understanding things like their entitlements to a solicitor under the Free Legal Aid scheme and at least one person missed out on a solicitor.
Bail seemed very strict for what were quite minor charges. The court usually required €500 surety from the defendent, €500 independent surety (and proof of means to supply it, e.g. a bank statement), and a cash lodgement of €500. Obviously everybody had such difficulty meeting such conditions of that hour in the morning that they remained in custody. Most of the accused have to sign on at a local Garda station daily until Wednesday.
Most people were remanded until Wednesday 5th May at 10.30am. Some to Cloverhill, some may be in other courts (I'm not sure)
Mr Paul Byrne (perhaps Burns) a solicitor who acted for some of the accused attempted to persuade the judge to ease the bail requirements for what are very minor charges. I understand that Bail requirments would normally be much lower.
The judge declined unless there were mitigating circumstances such as illness or, in the case of one man, perhaps because of his plea that he had no part in the demo. The judge replied to Mr Byrne that in 17 years on the bench he had never sat at 3.30 in the morning. The solicitor questioned the relevance of this in setting bail conditions for Public Order charges, but the judge was not swayed.
The Garda Sergeant objected to Bail for many of the accused on the grounds that the accused wasn't known to the Gardai and therefore they couldn't verify his or her identity or address. However a number of the accused did have some form of identification on them, including passports and driving licences. Normally not being known to the Gardai would be a good thing from the authorities point of view.
Most of the accused were young, early twenties and a good few were part-time workers and part-time students. I understand that at least one of the accused has been released on bail on Sunday.
Has anyone noted the fact that before MAry Lou McDonald of SF spoke at the AEIP rally she was attending a reception in the Pheonix Park with the ambassadors of the 25 EU states?
Regarding Sinn Fein involvement.I already know of at least two Shinners who were pulled and are on remand-another two who were injured.Sinn Feins attendance at the summit and involvement is strategic-how else can we change the EU by purely standing miles away from the leaders, holding a placard and getting batoned.Mary Lou attended the summit to express concern at the undemocratic direction of the EU and later expressed solidarity with protestors.We have to participate on some level to achieve change-infiltrate and annilate! On the matter of solicitors-the guys name is Paul Byrne- I am sure he is a good guy but we have been told to be wary of solicitors that are practically appointed by the cops.
They got what they deserved thats all i have to say. if they were in the front lines they deserved to be arrested. A night in the joy wil do them good
Thanks for that - you total fucking gobshite
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