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.