A leading Irish activist seized by Israeli authorities tonight revealed he was assaulted in custody while three others were severely beaten.

FOREIGN Affairs Minister Micheál Martin has accused Israel of kidnapping up to eight Irish citizens and breaking international law by refusing diplomats access to them.

Eight Irish people were travelling on a flotilla of aid ships where 15 people were reportedly shot dead today by Israeli commandos.

MORE than 100 gardaí, backed by a similar number of private security personnel, were last night involved in a standoff with protesters opposed to Shell’s attempt to lay a pipeline connecting north Mayo to the Corrib gas field.