Upcoming Events

Galway | EU

no events match your query!

New Events

Galway

no events posted in last week

Blog Feeds

Public Inquiry
Interested in maladministration. Estd. 2005

offsite link RTEs Sarah McInerney ? Fianna Fail?supporter? Anthony

offsite link Joe Duffy is dishonest and untrustworthy Anthony

offsite link Robert Watt complaint: Time for decision by SIPO Anthony

offsite link RTE in breach of its own editorial principles Anthony

offsite link Waiting for SIPO Anthony

Public Inquiry >>

Human Rights in Ireland
Promoting Human Rights in Ireland

Human Rights in Ireland >>

Lockdown Skeptics

The Daily Sceptic

offsite link Migrant Boat Bonfire Criticised as ?Sickening and Racist? Wed Jul 09, 2025 13:44 | Will Jones
A row has broken out over plans to burn an effigy of migrants in a small boat as part of an annual Northern Ireland bonfire protest tradition, with critics branding the move "sickening and racist".
The post Migrant Boat Bonfire Criticised as “Sickening and Racist” appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link Macron Blames Starmer for Migrant Crisis Wed Jul 09, 2025 11:27 | Will Jones
Emmanuel Macron has blamed Sir Keir Starmer for the migrant crisis in the Channel, saying a third of migrants in the EU are headed to the UK and demanding Starmer makes Britain a much less appealing destination.
The post Macron Blames Starmer for Migrant Crisis appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link The Lord?s Prayer Still Most Recognised Text in English Language Wed Jul 09, 2025 09:00 | Harry Phibbs
The Church of England commissioned a poll in the hope of finding The Lord?s Prayer was disliked by most church-goers and needed updating. To its horror, the vast majority of them love it just as it is.
The post The Lord?s Prayer Still Most Recognised Text in English Language appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link The ?Fair Trials for Grooming Gangs? Protests Are a Disgrace Wed Jul 09, 2025 07:00 | Laurie Wastell
The 'fair trials for grooming gangs' protests are a disgrace, says Laurie Wastell. Ostensibly advocating impartial justice, protest members call "the Rochdale thing" a lie while the leader's brother is in jail for rape.
The post The ‘Fair Trials for Grooming Gangs’ Protests Are a Disgrace appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link News Round-Up Wed Jul 09, 2025 00:59 | Richard Eldred
A summary of the most interesting stories in the past 24 hours that challenge the prevailing orthodoxy about the ?climate emergency?, public health ?crises? and the supposed moral defects of Western civilisation.
The post News Round-Up appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

Lockdown Skeptics >>

Voltaire Network
Voltaire, international edition

offsite link Will intergovernmental institutions withstand the end of the "American Empire"?,... Sat Apr 05, 2025 07:15 | en

offsite link Voltaire, International Newsletter N?127 Sat Apr 05, 2025 06:38 | en

offsite link Disintegration of Western democracy begins in France Sat Apr 05, 2025 06:00 | en

offsite link Voltaire, International Newsletter N?126 Fri Mar 28, 2025 11:39 | en

offsite link The International Conference on Combating Anti-Semitism by Amichai Chikli and Na... Fri Mar 28, 2025 11:31 | en

Voltaire Network >>

Protests Greet EU Ministers in Galway

category galway | eu | feature author Monday January 19, 2004 14:14author by Indymedia Ireland Editorial Group - Indymedia Ireland Report this post to the editors

Arrested Anti-war Activist Claims he was Brutally Beaten in Custody

The first major protests of Ireland's EU presidency took place this weekend in Galway, with a number of groups speaking out on issues ranging from racism to fishing in Connemara.


head_bright.jpgThe first major protests of Ireland's EU presidency took place this weekend in Galway, with a number of groups speaking out on issues ranging from racism to fishing in Connemara. They coincided with a meeting of employment/social affairs ministers in a city-centre hotel. The largest demonstration took place under the banner "Another Europe Is Possible", in Eyre Square, close to the venue, and was attended by around 500 people.

Gardai were present in large numbers, and a helicopter hovered overhead. Two people were arrested in a car-park for "obstructing traffic" late on Friday evening. Eoin Rice, a well-known activist, was arrested on Saturday morning, and was allegedly beaten while in Garda custody. In a statement made later that day, he detailed the alleged assaults. "One man stood on my neck as I lay on the ground while several others kicked at me and one man struck me acrossthe legs repeatedly with a telescopic baton which had a large ballbearing on the end. At least a dozen uniformed Gardai stood by watching this scene".

Fintan Lane, PRO of the Irish Anti-War Movement, "unreservedly condemn(ed) the heavy handed approach taken by Gardai in Galway". Edward Horgan of the Peace and Neutrality Alliance called for an "urgent independent investigation of these complaints against the Gardai". The Garda press office confirmed that Eoin Rice had been arrested and is due in court in February. They declined to comment on the allegations of a beating in custody but said that there are "several channels open to him if he wishes to make a complaint". Eoin was examined by a doctor at the Garda station and, on his instigation, was taken directly to Galway Hospital where a wound to his head was stitched, his arm was x-rayed and bandaged and anti-inflammatories and painkillers were administered.

According to Conor Cregan, an anti-war activist who was present at the arrest, all of these injuries were caused after Eoin had been taken away by Gardai. Eoin Rice, Conor Cregan and a third activist (from Spain) confirmed to an Indymedia Editor that they have already lodged complaints about the incident with the Garda Complaints Board.

This serious allegation comes at a time when questions about the accountability of the Gardai and allegations that they are 'out of control' have been recieving enormous public attention as a result of a recent Primetime Programme. The programme in question made extensive use of Indymedia Ireland footage of the Mayday RTS debacle. It is grimly ironic that that the broadcasting by Primetime of the very evidence that made allegations against Gardai in relation to the Mayday RTS impossible to ignore or deny outright is now being used by Lawyers for a number of Gardai as a potential way to have their trials delayed or called off.

IMC IRL Interview with Eoin Rice
Statement issued by Eoin Rice
Conor Cregan's Witness Statement
Videos of the protests and Eoin Rice's video statement
Photos of the demonstrations
Critical Account of the demonstrations
Photos of Gardai Special Branch Video surveillance

© 2001-2025 Independent Media Centre Ireland. Unless otherwise stated by the author, all content is free for non-commercial reuse, reprint, and rebroadcast, on the net and elsewhere. Opinions are those of the contributors and are not necessarily endorsed by Independent Media Centre Ireland. Disclaimer | Privacy