Arrested men beaten

Thursday August 07, 2003 00:54

by Ailín - Republican

AS SAOIRSE went to press eight men were charged in the Dublin Special non-jury Court with IRA membership.

The circumstances of their arrest on Sunday, August 3 in County Waterford are just coming to light. SAOIRSE has learned that two of the nine men, including the man who was released after 48 hours, were seriously assaulted by the 26-County police at the time of their arrest. In fact John Devane, solicitor, requested that medical attention be given to the two men he visited in lacerations and bruising.

Both men are from Limerick and were held in custody in a 26-County police barracks for 48 hours. John O'Halloran (34) was visited by relatives and his solicitor on August 4 and they noticed he had six bruises and cuts on his face. He called a doctor to the night and was prescribed painkillers.

The right arm of the other man, Dean Coleman (20), was completely black from a severe kicking he received from the 26-County police Š all armed and wearing balaclavas and plainclothes at the time of his arrest. His mother was not allowed in to visit him but his injuries were noted by his solicitor.

The fact that charges were dropped against Dean Coleman on August 5 begs the question: was this done so that his injuries would not be displayed in the Special Court in front of the media, relatives and friends? However, it may be noted that the solicitor insisted that a formal complaint be taken by the police.

Six of the eight men were charged with IRA membership in the Special Court on August 5. They were: Paddy Deery, Joe Mooney, Brian Galvin, all from Waterford; John O'Halloran, Limerick; Patrick J Kelly, Mark McMahon, Wexford. Two others, Michael Leahy and Tom Barry, both from Waterford, were charged with possession of firearms. Tom Barry was charged with possession of his own firearm, a double-barrelled shotgun, for which he has a valid certificate.

John Devane, solicitor for Patrick J Kelly, in cross examination, failed to elicit an answer from a police witness as to why if the others were arrested at 3.45pm his client was not arrested until 4pm. John demanded an answer to the missing quarter of an hour and was informed on the courts direction that his client was free to do whatever he wanted for a quarter of an hour. When the detective giving evidence was asked further questions in relation to the timing of the arrest the court interjected and indicated that these questions should be answered during the trial.

The same quarter of an hour time-lapse pretains in the case of other defendants before the court. Bail applications for all eight accused was fixed for Friday, August 8 at 11am. The solicitor representing Tom Barry, who suffers from epilepsy, asked that his client get immediate medical examination for his complaint because his medicine was not administered at the normal times during his detention. Also on August 3 and 4 there were lengthy raids on homes in Waterford by the 26-County police.

The home of Des Long, Republican Sinn Féin Vice-President, was also raided in Limerick even though there was no connection between Des Long and this particular investigation.

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Comments (15 of 15)

You'll get little sympathy

by Seáinín

Thu Aug 07, 2003 02:45

Even if these allegtions were true. Looks like they were caught red-handed. I was so happpy when I heard it on the news and I certainly don't mind if the Guards want to give them a good kicking.

FAO: Ailin

by Curious....

Thu Aug 07, 2003 09:39

Do you condemn the Omagh bombing, and other attoricites by the Real Ira/Continuity IRA?

If you do not, why not??

Interesting to note that Mr.McKevitt has not given the required hard evidence evidence to effectively back up his claims he was never a senior member of the IRA & later RIRA.

There is a myriad of evidence that proves he was, and possibly STILL IS, a terrorist.

I'll re-iterate my main point in case you did not get it first time around - Ailin, do you condemn the Omagh Bombing?

Can I suggest

by Janus

Thu Aug 07, 2003 10:28

that from no on people concerned about civil rights on Indymedia no longer have to qualify their arguments in terms of Omagh until you people state whether you condemn or condone Garda brutality, the beating of unarmed prisoners, the use of false evidence in court trials etc.

Those of us, including myself, who support political status for republican prisoners are often confronted with the Omagh question, despite having answered it on numerous occasions anymore and despite the refusal of the people asking the question to clarify where they stand on State terrorism, State violence, State bruality or anything like that. Considering Seanin's political philosophy, clearly developed in the white heat of political thinking that is Stallone films, where he supports the use of false evidence, the beating of defenceless prisoners and Garda brutality, I don't think I can be bothered re-stating my position on Omagh, nor I recommend should Ailin.

Missed that

Thu Aug 07, 2003 10:29

Missed Curious' most ridiculous statement, that McKevitt failed to prove he wasn't a senior member of the RIRA. Let me introduce you to the concept of being innocent until proven guilty. It's NOT guilty until you can prove yourself innocent. Subtle, yet important, distinction.

tom barry

by dilseacht

Thu Aug 07, 2003 13:34

just one small point, tom barrys shotgun was sawn off so it wasnt legal.

ICCL Contacted?

by John Meehan

Thu Aug 07, 2003 13:57

Has the ICCL been contacted about these allegations of Garda brutality?

Have public representatives been asked to take up the issue?

Garda brutality

by lugs Brannagan - just a thought

Thu Aug 07, 2003 14:40

Ask anyone that has ever been in a Garda Station "helping with enquiries" and the vast majority will tell of verbal and physical abuse. It doesn't matter if the accused is in for Drunk & Disorderly or membership of an organisation styling itself... The point is that abuse by Garda is the norm not the exception. This will continue until there is
1- a truely independent complaints board/procedure

2- Video cameras in all Garda Stations, holding areas, cells.

NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW.

party in the woods

Thu Aug 07, 2003 15:30

saoirse (which is the mouthpiece for the incompetent cira) is about as independent as garda review in this matter.

what were they doing in the woods btw saoirse????????????????????

This incident has nothing to do with Omagh

by Ailín

Thu Aug 07, 2003 18:40

Do you condemn the Omagh bombing, and other attoricites by the Real Ira?

I condemn the SOLE group behind the Omagh bomb and think they should disband before they cause any more damage to Irish Republicanism.

"Interesting to note that Mr.McKevitt has not given the required hard evidence evidence to effectively back up his claims he was never a senior member of the IRA & later RIRA."

So what. Why are you telling me. Nothing to do with this incident.

"There is a myriad of evidence that proves he was, and possibly STILL IS, a terrorist."

Again I fail to see what this has to do with the article I posted.

Obviously they were'nt beaten hard enough

by robby

Thu Aug 07, 2003 20:33

'cos they are still alive! Ha Ha Ha

what goes around, comes around

by ex pat

Fri Aug 08, 2003 11:10

they should've been left in the field and let the coppers have a go with some target practice

tom barrys shotgun was sawn off so it wasnt legal.

Fri Aug 08, 2003 20:29

No it wasnt. It was a standard shotgun which he has a permit for.

Violence

by Free State And Proud Of It

Sat Aug 09, 2003 15:38

Those who believe in using violence should accept violence from their opponents without hypocritical whinging about the "injustice" of it.

AILIN IS LYING

Thu Aug 14, 2003 15:22

there were 2 sawn off shotguns
both are illegal because theyre sawn off irregardless of whether theres a licence

stop fudging the issues ailin

Barry

by pat c

Thu Aug 14, 2003 18:42

Tom Barrys shotgun was sawn off and he used it to execute a RIC detective on the steps of a church. Ah, the grand old IRA, they were so gentle.

Robby you are a pitiful Walter Mitty.

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Arrested men beaten

Comments (15 of 15)