Call out to peace activists arrested protesting against war on terror

by Niall - Na Cosantóirí Síochána, the Peace Network Sat Jan 21, 2006 18:00

Maybe you could send some more details of yourself and your project to the above email address and we'll get back to you. Please send your phone number too, thanks. Possible that others might want to take similar tack with you, or not. Perhaps we can all post updates to progress on Indymedia later.

by barra Sat Jan 21, 2006 19:31

much more

by Edward Horgan - PANA Peace and Neutrality Alliance Sat Jan 21, 2006 23:43

To whom it may concern,
I know Scooter. He is one of "them" peace activists, that is he is not of George Bush's "US" and "them". He participated in the Peace Camp during the Bush visit in June 2004.
I urge all peace activists who have been detained, arrested, or otherwise harrassed by either Aer Rianta security, Gardai or other forces forces of the State in connection with protests at Shannon airport, to help compile a complete list of all such incidents.
Just for the record, I, Edward Horgan was detained briefly at a demonstration at Shannon in 2002 for crossing a Garda barrier and daring to shake hands with an Iraqi person, as an act of solidarity. My next major arrest came during the Bush visit on 24th June 2004 when I and two other peace activists were arrested by a combined force of the Garda Boat Unit, Irish Naval Service, Irish Air Corps, Garda Helicopter Unit, and with US Naval and air forces standing somewhere offshore or flying somewhere overhead. We were charged both under the Harbours Act and the Public Order Act, and after about five court appearances we were eventually aquitted in January 2005.
On 4th March 2005 I was detained by Aer Rianta Security and later arrested by Gardai for allegedly taking photographs of a US warplanes at Shanon airport. My camera and binoculars were confiscated, and sent to the Garda technical bureau for "expert" examination. A file was sent to the DPPs office, who decided not to prosecute me.
On 22 December, 2005 while passing through Shannon airport to visit my family in London for Christmas, I was forceably arrested after I had checked in and passed tthrough security and was in the Duty Free area, queing for tea and scones. I was physically removed from the departure area and taken through the crowded airport arrivals area to the Airport security office, where an Airport security inspector then formally asked the Gardai to arrest me for allegedly taking photos from public area. After some frank discussions between me and the Gardai, and phone calls to their Garda superiors, I was released, and eventually allowed to board my flight for London.
In addition to assisting Scooter with his research, we need to list all such arrests and detentions, and harrassement by security forces, as part of larger submission to the Council of Europe on abuses of human rights, including rendition for torture at Shannon airport.
Please sent any details of such events both to me at edward_horgan@hotmail.com and to Scooter at his above details also.
I need these details as soon as possible. Please list any other peace activists arrests that you are aware of also.
Edward Horgan

by Conor Cregan Sun Jan 22, 2006 19:40

Who working for? I will send you some details later.

by Aran - aranmcgrath@yahoo.com Mon Jan 23, 2006 18:11 aranmcgrath at yahoo dot com

If you scoure the archives of Indymedia Ireland in early May 2004 there is detailed information on the arrests that followed the EU Summit in Dublin attended by Bush Blair et al. I would say the great thrust of this protest was on anti war issues, particularly those who found themselves sieged on the Navan Road.It occured on the international day of protest May 1st and also coincided with the entry of a number of new Eastern European states into the EU.This basically gave the media free reign to paint a picture of a racist campaign on the part of the protestors.I was batoned by the Gardai after I refused to leave the area and asserted my right to protest. To my eternal shame a bloody picture appeared in a tabloid the next day.If I recall rightly (still a bit dazed and dizzy!) the Gards used particularly heavy tactics that day and it was the first time water cannon was used in this state to break up a protest.Two of my friends were arrested, remanded in Cloverhill Prison and refused bail.They subsequently received fines and one of them a conviction which was overturned on appeal.
I was active in Sinn Fein at a time when the IRA ceasefire was shaky but I swear I never received so much hassle from the state than in the two weeks that followed that protest.Because my picture appeared in the media I was taunted on two occasions by Gardai in my area.I once had to walk a long stretch of road to college and a squad car cruised up and down past me six times flashing lights, beeping its horn, facial gestures etc.I was also accosted a fortnight later by the special branch in Dublin city centre and asked why I was causing trouble at the protest, who I knew at it etc.
So go to the archives of May 6th and under "Court Information" you should get details of and the outcomes of all the arrests at that particular protest.Elsewere there are lots of pictures,posts, articles etc.Good luck with your project-long overdue!

by Damien M Wed Jan 25, 2006 15:16

Scooter, check out www.peaceontrial.com or www.warontrial.com for archived material re. Shannon and our trials. It may be less tedious than going through the last few years of Indy stuff which is jam-packed. On the given url's alot of the material was lifted from Indymedia. We have a dvd on our first trial and there is alot of material linked from our web re. the second trial last October. If you send me your address I'll send you our Peace On Trial dvd.

Also check out Mary Kelly's website
http://www.freewebs.com/mary_kelly/

There is a dvd done on MK's trials which you may want to get your hands on. If you get in contact with her through her website that may be the best way.

Best wishes in your endeavours.