KJ
8th May 2002, 18:32
What happened in Monday was nothing short of a disgrace. Please foward any of the stories below to people who you think might be interested
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 4
Date: Wed, 8 May 2002 01:56:05 -0700 (PDT)
From: daragh thomas < hectorjellly@yahoo.com >
Subject: (unknown)
As some of you are no doubt aware I was assaulted by a
number of Guardai at the start of this year whilst
walking home from d-fuse. Not only was I struck with
batons whilst lying (handcuffed) face down on the
ground, but I was also beaten in the cells for a
number of hours later. This took place in Pearse St
Station, and a point to note is that everyone in the
station including the desk sergeant had to be fully
aware of what was taking place. I could hear screams
lasting for hours from the cells next to mine.
Virtually (sorry nessa) everyone that I have talked to
about this, including friends, parents, other guards,
my lawyer, my doctor knew of other cases of police
brutality. The common factor in all of these stories
was either their reluctance to press complaints or
their complaints being at best ignored and at worst
them being intimidated.
Last Monday a peaceful demonstration turned into a
police riot, for all the cameras present there was not
one incidence of protesters violence or provocation
caught on film. With all the CCTV footage around Dame
St, if there had of been any such footage it would be
being played 24/7 on RTE. Thankfully some brave souls
managed to capture some of the police action, which is
now being shown in RTE and TV3.
What the cameras didn't capture is what happened later
in some of the Cells. One friend of mine in particular
was assaulted in the Van driving to Pearse St, the
guards only stopped when he told them he was a
haemophiliac. If anyone has todays Irish Times in
front of them, look at the picture on the left of page
five. This "Guard" is captured in nearly all the
footage running about and lashing out, just to the
left you can see him striking a protester to the
ground with a truncheon. My friend, who was released
without charge heard screaming emanating from the
cells beside him. Some of the people let go in the
morning needed stitches and nearly all needed to visit
a doctor or the hospital.
The Guards own regulations state (source todays Irish
Times) that Truncheons should not be used to the head
(see the picture on page 5 below for evidence of the
effects), and indeed should only be used as a last
resort. Perhaps these thugs had trouble understanding
these regulations?
If this is the way the guards behave on camera,
imagine how they treat people in the cells. (I know).
And imagine how they treat the disadvantaged amongst
our community, traveller's, homeless or prostitutes.
Several Groups have called a protest outside Pearse St
on Thursday at 6.00 pm, to protest at the police
brutality of Monday evening. I'll be there and I hope
that some of you will come down. Maybe if there are
any "decent cops" that we hear about they will come
down as well.
daragh
ps, please pass this message on to whoever you think
might come
________________________________________ __________
Message: 8
Date: Wed, 08 May 2002 09:31:59 +0000
From: "DJ Molotov" < djmolotov@hotmail.com >
Subject: Re: (unknown)
My cousin was in town on monday observing the protest and when he saw a girl
being struck down with a batton by a guard. He intervened (asked the guard
to stop) and asked the guards badge number, stating that it was wrong to
beat the girl as she had done nothing. needdless to say he was beaten to the
ground himself and handcuffed. He was beaten black & blue in the cell in
pearse st. station until he cried for them to stop. He has also told me that
he heard screams from other cells. He had to see a doctor for his wounds and
cannot move from his bed with pain. He was told that he will be charged on 6
different accounts of breaking the law and if he pleads guilty to one of
them he will get a section 11 probation. It seems these guards had another
agenda, despite being violent thugs.
I'm afraid what this demonstrates is the lack of screening in the
recruitment of police, the lack of training they receive in order to react
to public situations and a lack of control & authority from the senior
police officers. This stems all the way back to the current government who
fund and enforce the law. Bertie will have some new lies to tell but as long
as these criminals are in power this will continue to happen i feel. This on
top of the yes/no ? abortion is it ?? vote should i ?? just confirms how
much of a lying scumbag ahern is...
mol
http://www.djmolotov.com
Message: 12
Date: Tue, 07 May 2002 19:47:15 -0000
From: "thedizzywizard" < dizzywizard@oceanfree.net >
Subject: Re: Reclaim the Streets
i didnt see anything that happened on dame street, but i was at
the original location on the quays until about 5 o clock. the cops
reacted to some of the extreme protesters damaging a car. they
pushed it through the crowd not caring who they hit with it. this
was the starting point for a few people to become abusive to the
cops. they were dealt with harshely and anyone else in the way
got it too. it seemed at oner point that they just said "1, 2 , 3" and
made a break for the crowd.
it was grossly unfair to the legitimate people who were their. if
you've read the evening herald today you will no that one of the
victims was a photographer from the independant. they even
tried to break his camera as an insult to his job. i too was taking
pictures down there, all clearly show the front line of cops with
their numbers covered up. some of them were delighted to have
a bit of a ruckus and batter the scum that lined their streets.
remember they dont get to use those batons very often.
as far as the protest goes itself. their concerns are legit. i wont
go into a rant about this here. most people couldn't give a shit
about our planets welfare so i wont preach.
this is not an irish matter it is an international one - the right to
protest. if we are not satisfied by the way our world works we
should speak out. however the laws and those that enforce them
do not know how to handle complaints.
a time will come when a younger generation will have to clean
up the messes being left by our governments. but do we really
care?
________________________________________ ____________________________
Message: 2
Date: Tue, 7 May 2002 09:08:14 +0100
From: "Garret Collins (Compaq)" < v-gcoll@microsoft.com >
Subject: RE: Reclaim the streets
They got very heavy handed, it was totally uncalled for.
Beating anyone in their path.
Half of them were not even in uniform and not wearing their numbers.
They were like thugs just randomly beating innocent people.
They really showed themselves to what they really are
Brute thugs who do not even understand the words 'Peaceful Protest'.
________________________________________ ________________________________
Message: 3
Date: Tue, 7 May 2002 09:28:24 +0100
From: "Garret Collins (Compaq)" < v-gcoll@microsoft.com >
Subject: RE: Reclaim the streets
http://www.indymedia.ie/cgi-bin/newswire.cgi?id=3252
For anyone who was a victim to the Gardaí brutality yesterday...
A solicitor has been retained to pursue legal action against the Gardai for Assault at the Reclaim the Streets Party. If you were assaulted or witnessed an assault please write it down put your name and address on it and send it to me. If you need defense contact.
peter sweetman
address: 73 grosvenor road dublin 6
phone: 0872943151
petersweetman@esatclear.ie
________________________________________ ____________________________
There was confusion most protestors fell back through temple bar giving the tourists something colourful for their postcads. I should make this clear, this was no running battle, no riot. Garda casualties were minor to say the least. A few cuts and bruises and a lost cap would be the worst of their woes. Though later I learnt one Garda had a broken wrist.
Small groups of protestors and Garda are still milling around the streets as I write this, two people I know are in custody, with many more, possibly as high as 15. There's an attempt to gather a protest outside the station, but Zero Tolerance is the Garda Attitude. Several more people were taken away in ambulances. People in pubs and restaurants came out to shout abuse at Gardas, astonished by what they saw.
They beat up children. They arrested a man with a broken ankle, they attacked people videoing them doing this. There was minor scuffles but nothing to warrant or justify this obscene behaviour.
I just recieved a phone call, I can't conform this, but theirs a report of a ten year old boy in hospitial struck by a Garda baton.
Message: 14
Date: Tue, 07 May 2002 13:28:44 -0000
From: "alancoholan" < alancoholan@hotmail.com >
Subject: RTS RTE coverage
From only a brief clip for a few seconds on the RTE 9.00 News to the
main story today.
There are links to the report on today's 1.00 News at the bottom of
this page: http://www.rte.ie/news/2002/0507/demos.html#ram
The Gardai are staying remarkably quiet about this one.
Alan.
________________________________________ ______________________________
http://www.indymedia.ie/cgi-bin/newswire.cgi?id=3213
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 4
Date: Wed, 8 May 2002 01:56:05 -0700 (PDT)
From: daragh thomas < hectorjellly@yahoo.com >
Subject: (unknown)
As some of you are no doubt aware I was assaulted by a
number of Guardai at the start of this year whilst
walking home from d-fuse. Not only was I struck with
batons whilst lying (handcuffed) face down on the
ground, but I was also beaten in the cells for a
number of hours later. This took place in Pearse St
Station, and a point to note is that everyone in the
station including the desk sergeant had to be fully
aware of what was taking place. I could hear screams
lasting for hours from the cells next to mine.
Virtually (sorry nessa) everyone that I have talked to
about this, including friends, parents, other guards,
my lawyer, my doctor knew of other cases of police
brutality. The common factor in all of these stories
was either their reluctance to press complaints or
their complaints being at best ignored and at worst
them being intimidated.
Last Monday a peaceful demonstration turned into a
police riot, for all the cameras present there was not
one incidence of protesters violence or provocation
caught on film. With all the CCTV footage around Dame
St, if there had of been any such footage it would be
being played 24/7 on RTE. Thankfully some brave souls
managed to capture some of the police action, which is
now being shown in RTE and TV3.
What the cameras didn't capture is what happened later
in some of the Cells. One friend of mine in particular
was assaulted in the Van driving to Pearse St, the
guards only stopped when he told them he was a
haemophiliac. If anyone has todays Irish Times in
front of them, look at the picture on the left of page
five. This "Guard" is captured in nearly all the
footage running about and lashing out, just to the
left you can see him striking a protester to the
ground with a truncheon. My friend, who was released
without charge heard screaming emanating from the
cells beside him. Some of the people let go in the
morning needed stitches and nearly all needed to visit
a doctor or the hospital.
The Guards own regulations state (source todays Irish
Times) that Truncheons should not be used to the head
(see the picture on page 5 below for evidence of the
effects), and indeed should only be used as a last
resort. Perhaps these thugs had trouble understanding
these regulations?
If this is the way the guards behave on camera,
imagine how they treat people in the cells. (I know).
And imagine how they treat the disadvantaged amongst
our community, traveller's, homeless or prostitutes.
Several Groups have called a protest outside Pearse St
on Thursday at 6.00 pm, to protest at the police
brutality of Monday evening. I'll be there and I hope
that some of you will come down. Maybe if there are
any "decent cops" that we hear about they will come
down as well.
daragh
ps, please pass this message on to whoever you think
might come
________________________________________ __________
Message: 8
Date: Wed, 08 May 2002 09:31:59 +0000
From: "DJ Molotov" < djmolotov@hotmail.com >
Subject: Re: (unknown)
My cousin was in town on monday observing the protest and when he saw a girl
being struck down with a batton by a guard. He intervened (asked the guard
to stop) and asked the guards badge number, stating that it was wrong to
beat the girl as she had done nothing. needdless to say he was beaten to the
ground himself and handcuffed. He was beaten black & blue in the cell in
pearse st. station until he cried for them to stop. He has also told me that
he heard screams from other cells. He had to see a doctor for his wounds and
cannot move from his bed with pain. He was told that he will be charged on 6
different accounts of breaking the law and if he pleads guilty to one of
them he will get a section 11 probation. It seems these guards had another
agenda, despite being violent thugs.
I'm afraid what this demonstrates is the lack of screening in the
recruitment of police, the lack of training they receive in order to react
to public situations and a lack of control & authority from the senior
police officers. This stems all the way back to the current government who
fund and enforce the law. Bertie will have some new lies to tell but as long
as these criminals are in power this will continue to happen i feel. This on
top of the yes/no ? abortion is it ?? vote should i ?? just confirms how
much of a lying scumbag ahern is...
mol
http://www.djmolotov.com
Message: 12
Date: Tue, 07 May 2002 19:47:15 -0000
From: "thedizzywizard" < dizzywizard@oceanfree.net >
Subject: Re: Reclaim the Streets
i didnt see anything that happened on dame street, but i was at
the original location on the quays until about 5 o clock. the cops
reacted to some of the extreme protesters damaging a car. they
pushed it through the crowd not caring who they hit with it. this
was the starting point for a few people to become abusive to the
cops. they were dealt with harshely and anyone else in the way
got it too. it seemed at oner point that they just said "1, 2 , 3" and
made a break for the crowd.
it was grossly unfair to the legitimate people who were their. if
you've read the evening herald today you will no that one of the
victims was a photographer from the independant. they even
tried to break his camera as an insult to his job. i too was taking
pictures down there, all clearly show the front line of cops with
their numbers covered up. some of them were delighted to have
a bit of a ruckus and batter the scum that lined their streets.
remember they dont get to use those batons very often.
as far as the protest goes itself. their concerns are legit. i wont
go into a rant about this here. most people couldn't give a shit
about our planets welfare so i wont preach.
this is not an irish matter it is an international one - the right to
protest. if we are not satisfied by the way our world works we
should speak out. however the laws and those that enforce them
do not know how to handle complaints.
a time will come when a younger generation will have to clean
up the messes being left by our governments. but do we really
care?
________________________________________ ____________________________
Message: 2
Date: Tue, 7 May 2002 09:08:14 +0100
From: "Garret Collins (Compaq)" < v-gcoll@microsoft.com >
Subject: RE: Reclaim the streets
They got very heavy handed, it was totally uncalled for.
Beating anyone in their path.
Half of them were not even in uniform and not wearing their numbers.
They were like thugs just randomly beating innocent people.
They really showed themselves to what they really are
Brute thugs who do not even understand the words 'Peaceful Protest'.
________________________________________ ________________________________
Message: 3
Date: Tue, 7 May 2002 09:28:24 +0100
From: "Garret Collins (Compaq)" < v-gcoll@microsoft.com >
Subject: RE: Reclaim the streets
http://www.indymedia.ie/cgi-bin/newswire.cgi?id=3252
For anyone who was a victim to the Gardaí brutality yesterday...
A solicitor has been retained to pursue legal action against the Gardai for Assault at the Reclaim the Streets Party. If you were assaulted or witnessed an assault please write it down put your name and address on it and send it to me. If you need defense contact.
peter sweetman
address: 73 grosvenor road dublin 6
phone: 0872943151
petersweetman@esatclear.ie
________________________________________ ____________________________
There was confusion most protestors fell back through temple bar giving the tourists something colourful for their postcads. I should make this clear, this was no running battle, no riot. Garda casualties were minor to say the least. A few cuts and bruises and a lost cap would be the worst of their woes. Though later I learnt one Garda had a broken wrist.
Small groups of protestors and Garda are still milling around the streets as I write this, two people I know are in custody, with many more, possibly as high as 15. There's an attempt to gather a protest outside the station, but Zero Tolerance is the Garda Attitude. Several more people were taken away in ambulances. People in pubs and restaurants came out to shout abuse at Gardas, astonished by what they saw.
They beat up children. They arrested a man with a broken ankle, they attacked people videoing them doing this. There was minor scuffles but nothing to warrant or justify this obscene behaviour.
I just recieved a phone call, I can't conform this, but theirs a report of a ten year old boy in hospitial struck by a Garda baton.
Message: 14
Date: Tue, 07 May 2002 13:28:44 -0000
From: "alancoholan" < alancoholan@hotmail.com >
Subject: RTS RTE coverage
From only a brief clip for a few seconds on the RTE 9.00 News to the
main story today.
There are links to the report on today's 1.00 News at the bottom of
this page: http://www.rte.ie/news/2002/0507/demos.html#ram
The Gardai are staying remarkably quiet about this one.
Alan.
________________________________________ ______________________________
http://www.indymedia.ie/cgi-bin/newswire.cgi?id=3213