GAAW Scoffs At Galway City Council Condemnation

galway | anti-war / imperialism | news report

Tuesday June 12, 2012 12:33

by Galway Alliance Against War

The Galway Alliance Against War has scoffed at what it calls “the absurd Galway council politicians” condemning the group's peaceful visit to local TDs seeking them to do something about the scandolous raid on the home of their spokesperson.

“It is a bit rich for politicians who make their living calling to people's doors seeking favours – particularly at election time – to condemn GAAW for simply wishing to raise the issue of an unwarranted Garda raid on the home of one of its members. What is so special about politicians that we cannot go to their homes? Unlike in the case of Niall Farrell's home, their homes were not violated. It was an entirely peaceful and non-intimidating call. However, the sanctity of Niall Farrell's home was violated by a large group of aggressive male detectives, who refused to show their search warrant. No concern was given to the fact that the Farrell household is predominantly female. The Gardai refused a request from Niall's daughter to have female Gardai present. The purpose of this raid was to criminalise the peace movement and to seize data regarding anyone involved with our movement. We want Nolan and Walsh, two over-paid politicians, to safeguard the privacy of those people.

“As for the City Council condemning us, we consider this an honour. Better than getting bestowed with the Freedom of the City – literally it is a peace star on our lapels, something to be cherished. Terry O'Flaherty believes Niall Farrell should run for election. Niall believes in voluntary active citizenship not the clientelist politics that Cllr O'Flaherty indulges in and for which she receives a lot of taxpayers' money. Too many of these politicians are in it for the money with their handsome paypackets and curious travelling expenses claims.

“Is it any wonder this republic is in a state of crisis. The Seanie Fitzpatrick's – who have bankrupted us - swan it at the European football championships, while community activists such as Niall Farrell are harassed in their homes by the state's secret police. Let us make it quite clear we will not lie down and allow Fine Gael and Labour's heavy gang to criminalise us like they have criminalised the turf cutters, the Rossport community in Mayo and the Occupy Movement.”

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Comments (7 of 7)

Unwarranted?

by Intrested Observer

Tue Jun 12, 2012 13:35

am I to understand that the Gardai did not have a search warrant? Thats grounds for a complaint

The Jewel of the Human Soul

by W. Finnerty

Tue Jun 12, 2012 16:14

"Good name in man and woman, dear my lord,
Is the immediate jewel of their souls.
Who steals my purse steals trash; 'tis something, nothing;
'Twas mine, 'tis his, and has been slave to thousands:
But he that filches from me my good name
Robs me of that which not enriches him
And makes me poor indeed."

William Shakespeare

========================

"Yes, and it's also 'okay' -- according to themselves -- for corrupt Governments (Executive, Legislative, and Judicial) to try for all they're worth to CRIMINALISE and punish individuals (including myself) who try to challenge government crime which directly relates to extremely serious human rights abuses."

"Plus, it's also 'okay' -- according to themselves -- for grossly corrupt legal professions to ABSOLUTELY REFUSE to use human rights legislation (already in place) to protect people (like myself) who have become the targets of government crime involving extremely serious human rights violations."

The excerpts above are from an e-mail sent earlier today to (among several others) the Republic of Ireland's Chief Police Commissioner Martin Callinan, Chief Justice Susan Denham, and Justice Minister Alan Shatter TD.

The full text of the e-mail used can be viewed at:
http://www.humanrightsireland.com/DrAnneJeffers/12June2...l.htm

Pathetic

by mr staxski

Tue Jun 12, 2012 17:13

In my view it is out of order to stage a protest at the home of a TDs parents on a Sunday afternoon, especially after GAAW were informed that he no longer lives there.
It is out of order to blame either a FG or Labour TD for the behaviour of the Garda special branch. If politicans interfere with day to day police operations people would rightly be horrified.
If the Gardai did not have a warrant, you have a definite legal case.
Amazing how you bang on about freedom of speech and yet you block people from making critical comments on your youtube website.
The irony is I agree with GAAW 100% on issues such as Shannon Warport or the criminalisation of the people of Rossport.
But in a case like this you make me ashamed of left-wing activism.

If the Gardai did wrong, pursue them.
But don't blame TDs for the working of the Special Branch, which would be objectionable, and then go and expect them to do something about it.

You accuse Derek Nolan of being a 'coward'. The only cowards I saw in that video were a group of 14 who turned up, unannounced and uninvited at a couple's home in Riverside on a Sunday afternoon.

what's good for the gander....

by lefty

Tue Jun 12, 2012 17:36

the whole point is that the special branch targetted mr Farrell BECAUSE of the interference of politicians. Political policing. If its ok for the TD to authorise that police go and search the private house of Mr Farrell merely for expressing his democratic right to protest, then why shouldn't GAAW respond in kind, (albeit not remotely as intrusive as a full blown garda search, complete with snide political commentary was on mr Farrell!!)

What's good for the gander is good for the goose, or the well paid TD sending the police around to search the house of a private citizen doing no wrong, for the political purposes of chilling democratic protest against illegal war, and our government tacit support of this in our name.

"No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence ..."

Tue Jun 12, 2012 19:42

I wonder how this "Garda raid" fits in (if at all) with the following:

=================

Article 12 of the United Nations of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which reads: "No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks." From http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/index.shtml

=================

Article 8 of The European Convention on Human Rights Act 2003 (Republic of Ireland):

1) Everyone has the right to respect for his private and family life, his home and his correspondence

2) There shall be no interference by a public authority with the exercise of this right except such as is in accordance with the law and is necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security, public safety or the economic well-being of the country, for the prevention of disorder or crime, for the protection of health or morals, or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.

From: http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2003/en/act/pub/0020/pri....html

=================

Related Link:
http://www.humanrightsireland.com

Where's the evidence?

Tue Jun 12, 2012 21:10

Lefty,

Have you any ounce of evidence that Derek Nolan TD somehow "authorised" the Gardai to go and search Niall Farrell's house? I very, very much doubt it. If you have, please produce it.

A pity you are ruining a good cause (opposing the use of Shannon Airport by US military aircraft) by annoying and alienating people. Picketing the home of the parents of a TD does absolutely nothing for your cause, but merely manages to frustrate or turn people off.

Any evidence of illegal activity by the Gardai should be directed to the Garda Ombudsman, not the parents' house of a bloody politician on a Sunday afternoon.

@ mr staxski

Wed Jun 13, 2012 18:31

I never stated that Derek nolan specifically triggered this action. However it is patently obvious that the word came down from someone to the garda to take this action. And If arbitrary searching of citizens is deemed ok by politicians, then why not arbitrary targetting of well paid TD's by activists in response in order to transmit a message back to whoever WAS responsible that these kind of bullshit political policing and intimidating tactics are not on, and activists can make it more personal and respond in kind if necessary.

Interesting how they are currently debating the lack of police to patrol our streets in the dail, meanwhile ample police are found for political policing to search Mr Farrells house, to remove the occupy tent in Eyre square, and to harass the rossport activists as seen in photographs taken at the weekend. Curious no?

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GAAW Scoffs At Galway City Council Condemnation

Comments (7 of 7)