Council for Civil Liberties condemn gardai actions

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties is condemning the excessive use of force by gardai at yesterday’s anti-globalisation protest in Dublin.

The Minister for Justice, John O'Donaghue, is promising a full Inquiry into allegations that gardai removed their identity badges before baton-charging protestors.

Liam Herrick, from the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, says gardai think they can act outside the law.

"A lot of the protestors, who tried to make complaints, were turned away from Fitzgibbon St Garda station.

"Even if they had been successful in being heard it would only be an internal investigation carried out by the gards. We do not have a good system here in the Republic, unlike the North where there is an Ombudsman."