Tibetans say gardaí harassed them during Xi’s Irish visit

The Garda Ombudsman is to assess a complaint from three Tibetans who claim they were harassed by gardaí as well as prevented from protesting during the visit of Chinese vice-president Xi Jinping.

The Tibetans claim they were repeatedly stopped and questioned by gardaí and, on one occasion, prevented from protesting anywhere inside Phoenix Park during Mr Xi’s visit to Áras an Uachtaráin.

They have lodged a complaint with the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission.

A spokesman for the commission confirmed they had received the complaint.

However, he said no decision had been made as to whether or not it would be investigated.

The claims have been raised by both Amnesty International and Frontline.

Fianna Fáil justice spokesman Dara Calleary also said he was concerned.

Speaking yesterday to the Irish Examiner, one of the protestors, Tsering Dolma Murphy said she was shaken by the experience.

“I feel very terrible. I am very upset by the way they treated us. The treat us as if we were terrorists.”

She said they were unable to protest at Croke Park on Sunday, Feb 19, claiming gardaí “tricked” them by sending them to the wrong entrance.

She claimed when they heard Mr Xi was going to Dublin Castle, they jumped into a taxi, which was immediately pulled over by gardaí.

“The garda pulled us down, asked the taxi driver where were we going, asked for our identification,” said Ms Murphy, who lives with her husband Niall in Tallaght, Dublin.

She said they were allowed to protest at Dublin Castle, where Mr Xi attended an official dinner.

Ms Murphy said she and two Tibetan friends drove to Phoenix Park on Monday, Feb 10, and parked their car near the gate of Áras an Uachtaráin.

She said two gardaí told them they could not park there and asked about the flag in her car. She told them it was the Tibetan flag.

Ms Murphy said they drove to the public car park at the Papal Cross and claimed the two gardaí followed them.

She said a peaceful argument took place after gardaí asked for their identification and confiscated their flags.

It is understood the gardaí might have been concerned the flag poles could have been thrown at the Chinese cavalcade.

Ms Murphy said this was “ridiculous”. She claimed they were told they could not protest and that they would get their flags back when they left the park.

They were ordered to follow the garda car out the Castleknock gate, where they got their belongings back.

Ms Murphy claimed that when they later went to Leinster House, they were subjected to inappropriate comments from a garda.

Speaking on RTÉ yesterday, Colm O Gorman of Amnesty International said they would be meeting the protesters this week.

He said while they had yet to assess the claims it was “difficult to see what kind of public order threat this small group of people posed”.

The Garda Press Office declined to comment.