Irish reporter attempts ‘citizen’s arrest’ of Blair

A DUBLIN-born journalist had to be restrained by bodyguards yesterday after he attempted a “citizen’s arrest” of former British prime minister Tony Blair in the European Parliament.

After being “pushed away” from a startled Mr Blair, Irish journalist Dave Cronin, 38, shouted: “You are guilty of war crimes.”

Mr Cronin, who works for the online Inter Press Service said the idea occurred to him on Sunday when he heard Mr Blair would be in the parliament.

His inspiration came from the ArrestBlair.org campaign, which collects donations and offers a bounty for anybody attempting to take the multi-millionaire politician into custody.

“I thought that if I got the opportunity I would perform a citizens arrest, something that is recognised in Belgium, and invite him to accompany me to the nearest police station.

“I would have liked to have filed a complaint against him requesting a criminal investigation because I believe he has been involved in crimes against people and is guilty of the crime of aggression because of the war in Iraq,” he said.

Britain and Belgium have signed up to the International Criminal Court that recognise these crimes, he added.

He touched Mr Blair lightly on his arm and said: “This is a citizen’s arrest.”

“He looked at me with a mixture of contempt and bewilderment and then I was pushed away by one of his bodyguards,” said Mr Cronin.

The journalist plans to claim some €3,000 for the attempt and said he will donate it to the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights.