May Day protesters claim garda harassment

TENSIONS were running high last night ahead of today's May Day marches, following mounting claims by protesters of garda harassment.

Organisers of a march on Phoenix Park claimed people had been arrested, strip-searched and, in other cases, homes were raided and property taken.

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) said it was very concerned at the claims and warned gardaí of people's rights under the European Convention of Human Rights.

Organisers of the Dublin Grassroots Network march also claimed gardaí were undermining their attempt to hold a peaceful protest by refusing them access to their publicised assembly point.

The ICCL criticised the gardaí for denying protesters access to their assembly point, saying the action was "begging something to kick off". The worsening situation comes amid the biggest single security operation in the State's history as EU leaders gather in Farmleigh House to mark the accession of 10 countries.

Some 5,000 gardaí and 2,500 soldiers are on duty throughout the city.

The US embassy warned its citizens to stay away from the protests, saying that in the past "similar demonstrations have sometimes turned violent".

Gardaí yesterday repeated they were not intimidating protesters, but merely preparing for all eventualities, including violence by a small minority.

Liz Curry of the Dublin Grassroots Network (DGN) said it had a number of reports of alleged garda harassment. It claims:

On Thursday night, a student was arrested near a DIY shop after buying spray paint, strip-searched in a garda station and held for six hours.

Yesterday morning, six unidentified gardaí raided a house on the northside and questioned its occupants, taking their identification.

Yesterday afternoon, 10 gardaí raided a house on the southside on suspicion of criminal damage and took a video camera.

There are allegations concerning the legality of one of the warrants.

Aisling Reidy of the ICCL said: "We are very concerned at the reports of the widespread use of stop and search powers, raids and pre-emptive arrests.

"If these claims are accurate, they raise serious questions under the European Convention of Human Rights Act and leave the gardaí open to court cases over the use of these powers."

Gardaí yesterday said they would not comment on individual cases. Aileen O'Carroll of DGN said the gardaí's actions, including their refusal to allow protesters to meet at their assembly point, were ratcheting up the tension.

"We feel they are undermining our attempts to have a peaceful protest. We almost think they are trying to incite something to happen," she said. "They've created a chaotic situation."

She said they had moved their assembly point from Parkgate Street to the GPO on O'Connell Street, where they will decide whether to march on Phoenix Park.

Meanwhile, a second protest event organised by Another Europe is Possible will go ahead at Heuston Station at 2.30pm.