Galway Bus Harassed By Gardai

by jpc - SWP Sun Apr 13, 2003 14:34

is one guard giving another guard oral pleasure? by the looks of the guards face id say so,i know the guards were close but this close? keep out of the job garda fellows...

by lo Sun Apr 13, 2003 15:10

How did the protest go?

by 4peace Sun Apr 13, 2003 15:13 4peace at fsmail dot net

GOOD ONE, JPC!!! WELL DONE.

by Eoin Dubsky Sun Apr 13, 2003 15:38

If the police harass you and try to cop a feel under public order or drugs laws try to stand your ground and resist.

"No, I won't show you what's in my bag".

"On what grounds do you want to search my belongings?"

"What section exactly of the [whatever-he-said] Act?"

"What reason do you have to believe that I would commit [whatever-he-said] offence?"

"That's no reason. That wouldn't stand up in court."

If its not your coach, and the driver says "sure, come aboard" then its not so easy of course. But if it is your choice, then exercise your right to privacy. You don't have to give the police any assurances that you'll behave one way or another.

There's no point acting the maggot, just be assertive and remember that the onus is always on them to explain why they are harassing peaceful protesters. If they do arrest you, make sure you get an official written record of it (arresting officer, reason for arrest...).

by John Sun Apr 13, 2003 16:12

Fucks sake Dubsky, do you think people (activists in this case) don't know how to stand their ground with the gardai? Why do you always speak as if people are children?

by Ruairi Sun Apr 13, 2003 17:34

unfortunately some activists, for whatever reason, crap their pants when experiencing such 'authority' - must be all the training....

by John Sun Apr 13, 2003 17:59

Well, that's the thing, isn't it. You're either up for it or you're not. These 'direct action training sessions' are a bizarre phenomenon and obviously designed for those who need to be told the obvious. You learn by doing.

by James McKenna Sun Apr 13, 2003 19:25

To harass a group of people who are going to protest because they are against war and the murder and maiming of all ages is an abomination.

Whoever ordered this should be ashamed of themselves . Especially since there was no justification for the search, based on the fact that nothing was found.

Go to a lawyer tomorrow. You need to make a proper complaint.

If they had any decency they should have arrested Richard Haas for war crimes. I bet his diplomatic bag would be worth a search!

by Eoin Dubsky Sun Apr 13, 2003 21:23

John, many of us use the comments section of indymedia to share ideas and experiences because we're not all endowed with the confidence to always stand our ground in such circumstances. Sharing ideas and knowledge can be helpful in building up confidence.

You seem to think that nonviolence and safety workshops are also a load of crap - "obviously designed for those who need to be told the obvious". If you'd attend one I think you'd find that there's no "teacher", and that like here on indymedia, participants all pitch in to make it work. Someone with an experience of, say, calming an irate driver at a blockade, can share that with the group. Others will make points about civil liberties or feminism, or tear gas or speaking to the media.

The reason I put most of my earlier comment in dialog form (okay, I didn't write what the police said... just the activist) is because I find it helpful to role-play these things, or at least read them as you might say them. I didn't mean to condescend.

by John Sun Apr 13, 2003 21:43

Fair enough, Mr Dubsky, but you have a general tendency to condescend in your postings. Awareness, I suppose, is the first step...

by Mark Sun Apr 13, 2003 22:34

Maybe the garda arer looking for weapons. As we have seen before some peaceful protesters thing that running around an airport with axe's is peace.
I could be completly wrong. May they have nothing better to be doing.

by Mark Sun Apr 13, 2003 22:35

Maybe the garda are looking for weapons. As we have seen before some peaceful protesters think that running around an airport with an axe is a peaceful protes.
I could be completly wrong. May they have nothing better to be doing.

by caspian Mon Apr 14, 2003 03:22

Take a long hard look at these guys. You must know who they are. They come from a town near you. A street near you. You know who these young thugs are. These are the people who are carrying out the fascist policies that Bertie and his pal Tony and the chimp Bush are forcing upon us all.
Who is that handsome young dude in the middle of the bus? Acting no different than a Nazi Gestapo Official. Is he related to you? Does this stormtrooper live near you? Does he live next door to you? Let him know how you feel about him turning our hard earned democracy into a police state!

by Phuq Hedd Mon Apr 14, 2003 06:37

Is that an offensive weapon in your pocket there, now or is just an oul' tool?

W.r.t. the "Dubsky is condescending" argument. Maybe so, but that doesn't answer the question as to why you didn't tell them to feck off?

Were you afraid of arrest or what was the reason for _complying_ with this harrassment?

(Not making any judgements, just asking questions).

by Vinnie Mon Apr 14, 2003 09:25

>Were you afraid of arrest or what was the
>reason for _complying_ with this harrassment?

The driver had already let them on, and they claimed they had a right to search us under the public order act.

We went through all the motions of asking under what law and what their reasonable suspicion etc etc, but at the end of the day they continued their search, I got it all on video which I hoped might keep them in check and we gave them a round of applause as they sank off to try harass some children or old people who wouldn't give them as much trouble.

With regards to taking legal action, theres no point, gardai always win in situations like this, its just a waste of time.

An yes I do think the third picture down is particularly amusing which is why I selected it ;-)

by former law-abiding citizen Mon Apr 14, 2003 17:53

This stop, harass, and search if they can get away with it policy has had a most positive effect. It has turned benign anti-war souls into much more politicised beings. Hell hath no fury like an innocent person stopped repeatedly.
Call at the garda station with those documents that they know are in perfect order anyway, at 3.00 a.m.
Catch them on the hop asleep on duty as I have.

by Confused Sat Jul 31, 2004 02:16

I dont understand such hatred, dont you realise that these storm troopers are the same people that put their necks on the line day in day out to try and keep the streets safe for you to march on?
The person or people that were on that bus can probable say here and now that those Gardai took no pleasure in their actions, they carried out their duties without any personal involvement. They were probable polite and didnt make any bigger a mess than they had to. Do you honestly believe that there was no need for security in Shannon considering who the visitor was?
One of the posts refers to how you assert yourself in these situations, you dont. You respect the law.
Do you think its enjoyable to stand in a ditch in the rain? Do you not think those Gardai would rather have been at home with their families?
As its been pointed out they are you neighbours and friends (in some cases). what does that make them? Normal human beings. Not trash or murderers or Nazis.
the majority of this nation supports the Gardai but you probable cheer when you hear that Garda has been injured or stabbed by a needle from some low life criminal that they were trying to keep of the streets for you.
Theres a saying "They are here to save your ass not kiss it"
As for waking them up at 3am, no they dont get annoyed cause you woke them up but chances are they are probable busy with criminals.

by And another thing Sat Jul 31, 2004 02:23

If they do arrest you, make sure you get an official written record of it (arresting officer, reason for arrest...).
- Pretty hard not to get that since you will have a copy of the charge sheet and bail bond. If you arent charged then your not entitled, simple as that. Your solicitor can request it and so can you under freedom of information but on the day, its not happening.

Actually it also strikes me that you go mad about no shoulder numbers, has anyone looked at the helmets? Maybe theres a number there? Bingo.

by Al Sat Jul 31, 2004 02:26

Whoever ordered this should be ashamed of themselves . Especially since there was no justification for the search, based on the fact that nothing was found.
Actually thats not really true is it? Lots of criminals get away from a search on 1 or 2 occasions, doesnt mean the information was bad.
Do you expect the Gardai to combat criminals only when they seem them commit the crime?

by al Sat Jul 31, 2004 03:37

Just some light hearted fun

Just some humour

by toneore (cop) Sat Jul 31, 2004 21:12

lame. and how come the photographs show the faces of the gardai and not the people on the bus? have you something to hide?