Subscribe to the
Sinn Féinn News
email news
service & multimedia
news centre

7 December, 2006

Other News

Search: Print this article E-mail this article Other News International: Elections confirm left wing trend across Latin America Crowe presses Hanafin on education disadvantage Ecuador - social movements overthrow political elite Councils must target gaps in electoral register - Crowe Register To Vote Now - Adams Skills training: Successful programme continues O'Hanlon and Sabhat to be remembered in commemorative booklet Towards 2016 - Where to now for the unions? Nuacht na nOibrithe Capt. Michael McVerry Commemorated Iris re-launched Fógraí bháis Cabra honours the Hunger Strikers Mayo County Council to mark 1981 Hunger Strike MEP welcomes Naomh Fionnbarra hurlers to EU Parliament Plaque unveiled to 1916 Volunteer Sign up to receive news from An Phoblacht. Enter your e-mail address: Privacy policy

Garda harassment in Wicklow

Photo: Young republicans Stephen Collins and Jason Doyle with Wicklow Sinn Féin Councillor John Brady

Wicklow Sinn Féin Councillor John Brady has condemned a campaign of harassment against young Sinn Féin members in Bray. According to Brady, for the past four months 18-year-old Jason Doyle has been at the receiving end of relentless harassment from local Gardaí.

Councillor Brady says that the latest string of incidents are part of a wider picture of harassment  which has been ongoing in Bray throughout the Hunger Strike commemorative events of the past year and which has involved both Bray Town Council and the Gardaí.

On Wednesday, 29 November Gardaí, using the Misuse of Drugs Act, stopped and searched Jason Doyle's van. According to Doyle and John Brady, both of whom spoke to An Phoblacht this week, Gardaí took personal material from Doyle's wallet and have not returned it.

The following evening in what Brady described as a very cynical incident Jason Doyle and another republican were arrested.

"On Thursday night Jason and another young republican Stephen Collins were arrested and charged with drunk and disorderly and aggressive behaviour. When I left them they were far from drunk or disorderly. Jason and myself had been busy all night running the table quiz and we decided to get a drink afterwards in a late bar. Jason rang me from the back of the police transit to say they'd been arrested. The two lads had been pulled out of view of the Garda CCT cameras and assaulted", said Brady.

"I rang the Garda station but was refused access to them. They were refused access to a solicitor or even to make a phonecall from the station which is a basic right", he said. My wife drove to the Garda station and asked to see them. She was refused access and put out of the Garda station.  The Gardaí actually shoved a pen into Stephen's hand.

Brady believes that it is the level of Sinn Féin activism around Wicklow that has led to the campaign of harassment. "It's the same Gardaí who have been harassing Jason all along. It's obvious to anyone why they're coming down on us. It's the sheer level of Sinn Féin activism. They don't like it.

'We'll be looking for a meeting with the Superintendent straight away and we're getting in touch with a solicitor."

 

 

Articles may not be reproduced without the consent of An Phoblacht. For further information, please contact