éirígí activists on trial again

05/03/09

The 26-County state’s attempted prosecution of two éirígí activists, Ciarán Fitzpatrick and Darragh Burton, was adjourned yesterday (Wednesday 4 March).

The case was brought against the two men after they were arrested during an éirígí protest held to coincide with the state commemoration of the First Dáil on January 20. The protest was held to remind the 26-county politicians in attendance of the ongoing British occupation of the Six Counties and expose their silence on the issue. During the procession attended by Ireland’s political elite, and despite a heavy Garda presence, a banner was unfurled from the roof of the Mansion House, reading “90 YEARS ON – NO CLOSER TO FREEDOM – END THE OCCUPATION!”

At today’s court case, a charge of ‘criminal trespass’ was read out by the attending Gardaí . Both Ciarán and Darragh entered pleas of not-guilty.

In a deliberate attempt at manipulating the case, the Gardaí only provided the defending solicitor with the relevant CCTV footage a couple of days before the court appearance. The Gardaí would have been well aware that the 12 hours of footage they provided, would prove impossible to analyse effectively in such a time-frame.

These two actions, combined with the failure of the Gardaí to produce the correct arresting statements, provided the men’s solicitor with ample opportunity to request an adjournment.

After a brief deliberation the presiding judge adjourned the case until 30 June.

Speaking after the event, éirígí chairperson Brian Leeson said, “The Gardaí are clearly pursuing this case for political reasons. The norm in similar incidents would be for the defendants to be released from Garda custody after a few hours of detention.

“This case is not about ‘trespass’. It is about the right to peaceful protest.

“éirígí was able to expose, in a very public manner, the uncomfortable political reality of the continued British occupation of the Six Counties and the connivance in that occupation by the political elite of the 26 counties. That is why Ciarán and Darragh are being dragged through the courts today.

“The state will always respond to peaceful resistance through subterfuge, threats and intimidation. We in turn, must always defend the right to peaceful protest.”