Black Pope Arrested

by bp watcher Fri Dec 19, 2003 13:54

.

by Fuck sake Fri Dec 19, 2003 14:07

this is taking harrassment to a new level.

by Liberal Fri Dec 19, 2003 15:38

Where are the radical lawyers? Where are the ICCL? Where is Ivania?

by black pope? Fri Dec 19, 2003 15:50

It amazes me who anarchists can go on and on about how they don't have 'leaders'. But they then go about giveing themselves leaders- ie Ciaron O'Reilly and this 'Black Pope' guy. Why give hime the title of "Black Pope" - is he infallible? You all think these people are great, you listen to what they have to say and you follow them- i.e. they are your leaders. But these people are not elected or accountable.

by Ray Fri Dec 19, 2003 16:00

But it doesn't any more.
AFAIK, the 'Black Pope is what he calls himself. I presume at least part of this is so that he can keep his name at least partly private. And I thought he was in the IAWM anyway - hardly Anarchy Central.
As for Ciaron O'Reilly (the other CWers don't get a look in apparently), well, he certainly gets respect for what he's done. But I haven't noticed anarchists joining the CWers in droves. Or becoming religious. Or joining in with many of the things he does. I'm glad he's doing what he does, but I'm not about to follow him, which kind of messes up the idea that he's a 'leader', doesn't it?
What is it with you Trots anyway? Why is it so hard to believe that other people are capable of thinking for themselves, and don't need a bunch of full-timers to think for them? Would you dissolve into a quivering ball if you didn't have a central committee to tell you the correct line on everything?

by Ciaron Fri Dec 19, 2003 16:07

If anyone wants to follow me, I'll be at the Kila Gig tonight, Vicar St. - should be good!

Origins of Black Pope- I think it's from the Niostridamas prophecy that the world will end when there's a Black Pope.

I think it was an email name and now a term of effecvtion. Great guy - lousy police harrassment. (This is just likle Quieensland in the '70's ...bnack to the future! Here we go again!

by Joe Sheehan Fri Dec 19, 2003 16:57

Eoin has been charged with a public order offence, section 6 (abuse and insult) obstructing a Garda, obstructing a Garda car and failing to obey a Garda

by iosaf Fri Dec 19, 2003 17:14

There are some protesters, not many, but a considerable few, who are lumped together under the very broad church banner of :
"Non violent - civil disobedient - Anarchist - Libertarian - Liberation Theologist - slightly bonkers - bit of a character- easily recognised - usual suspect- always there - can rely on him/her"- protester.
These people are not criminals.
Nor are they terrorists.
But one thing is certain: "they have a problem doing exactly what the Garda wants them to do".
Therefore it is my humble opinion having watched such things at close quarter over more than a decade, that the Gardaí should _stop seeking to get obedience_ from the disobedients. As it only encourages other obedients to start being disobedient.

And there are plenty of precedents on the "non-political bit of a character front", I can think of half a dozen individuals off the top of my head who regularly showed themselves "incapable" of obeying a clear and probably lawful instruction from a Garda. And you know, that's just how it is.
Stop & desist therefore Gardaí of Erin trying to bend to the Black Pope Mr Eoin Rice to your will. Because it will never work. And he is no Manix Flynne and you're not going to get him on any criminal charge worth the effort, in fact you only make yourselves even more unpopular. And if ye do that, then maybe some of Mr Rice's retainers will keep him out of serious mischief for a while, not that I've ever heard of him being in serious mischief.

But from afar, (and have I ever been near?) this whole thing looks like a sustained campaign of organised and state authorised harrassment against a protester and "a bit of a character" and a well loved one @ that.

by Maratist Fri Dec 19, 2003 17:56

The Black Pope isn't an anarchist - he is part of the IAWM incidentally - I've noticed him getting a lot of "solidarity" from some IAWM members on this site lately. Ciaron, who is an anarchist, is hardly well placed to lead a movement (should we want to have such or he want to be such) which is typcially decidedly non-pacifist and staunchly atheist.
Anyone who pays attention to these matters will note that the Catholic Worker's practise and promote acountable small group actions - which most of the anarchist movement are critical of, favouring mass direct action. From time to time some anarchists of that tendency have helped the pitstop ploughshares with a bit of publicity or whatever. This hasn't got to do with ideological affinity....it's the bare minimum you do for people standing alongside you in the anti-war struggle who end up in court.
Perhaps you think we are all one and the same thing because we recognise we are on the same side against war, irrespective of tactical or ideological differences.

by iosaf Fri Dec 19, 2003 19:00

i suppose he should be called the "non ideologically disobedient but still rather naughty "_red_ pope" then.
:-)
Happy Xmas.

by xxx Sat Dec 20, 2003 00:57

the black pope is not a leader - he is however a fairly wacky and inspirational guy, some sheep obviously can't distinguish between hero worship and respect.

by Somout Sat Dec 20, 2003 02:23

...so lay off them!

by Phuq Hedd Sat Dec 20, 2003 07:13

On the foot of what evidence? That the Special Branch layabout goons that smashed the window of his car hurt their little handsies?

I certainly don't believe that he committed any assaults and I hope that the "authorities" that decided to press these charges are disciplined for wasting the time of the courts.

by David Sat Dec 20, 2003 12:58

Not a chance that the cops will have to answer to the law

by Court Reporter Sat Dec 20, 2003 22:33

Court: Ennis District Court
Judge: Joseph Mangan
Prosecutor: Inspector Thomas Kennedy
Defendant: Eoin Rice
Solicitor: Joseph Chambers

Eoin Rice turned up to Ennis District Court on Friday 19th December to answer an charge of dangerous driving alleged to have occured in a car park at the rear of Shannon Airport in the early hours of Saturday Dec 6th 2003, some hours before an anti-war protest action took place.
When Mr. Rice arrived at the court (currently being held in a GAA club) he was arrested by Gardai and charged with four further offences alleged to have occured when he was arrested in the Shannon Shopping Centre Car Park in the morning after the protest.
The charges are all from the Criminal Justice (Public Order ) Act 1994.
Sections 6,8,9 and 19

6 Threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour in public place.
8 Failure to comply with direction of member of Garda Síochána.
9 Wilful obstruction.
19 Assault or obstruction of peace officer.

Inspector Kennedy brought the new charges to the attention of the judge and Detective Sgt Joseph O Brien gave evidence that he had arrested Eoin in Court and when cautioned, Eoin had made no reply.

Joseph Chambers, on behalf of the defence asked that legal aid be extended to these new charges and that there was concern regarding certain items of Mr. RIce's property that might contain evidence relating to the allegations.

Mr. Rice took the stand and explained that his camera had been taken by the Gardai and that he believed that the film would contain evidence useful for his defence.
Mr. Rice also explained that his dictaphone had also been taken and returned without the tape, and that the tape was also useful for his defence.
In relation to the earlier arrest and charge of dangerous driving, Mr. Rice told the court that his UK driver's license and his mini-disc recorder had been taken by D. Sgt Moloney (who was not present in court)
His car was also taken, but later returned, minus some items.

At this point the judge sought clarification as to which items were taken during what arrests.

It was explained that when D.Sgt Moloney arrested Mr. Rice, that the license and mini-disc were taken from him, and the Camera was taken from him from the other arrest involving D.Sgt O'Brien.

Mr. Chamber's asked that his client would receive, in addition to the usual copy of statements -copies of the relevant extracts from the notebooks of Sgt. Noel McMahon (1st arrest) Garda Martin Chambers (2nd arrest) the arresting officers (D.Sgts O'Brien and Moloney), the Members in Charge, all custody records of both arrests.

The judge paused the case at this point, 12:24 to finish with it later.

(it should be noted, that this is normal procedure for this judge. He normally does not deal with any activists case until the end of the day when the court is almost empty)

at 4pm, with less than 10 people in court, including the judge, clerk and Gardai,the judge returned to Mr. Rice's case.

Mr. Rice asked for the return of his driving license and Mini Disc.
Inspector Kennedy said that he had no problem with the return of the license, and was not aware of any reason why the rest of Mr. Rice's property was not returned but asked for time to look into the matter.

The Judge said he would defer an order to return these items until Inspector Kennedy had looked into it.

Mr. Chambers said that he also wished copies of extracts from the notes of Garda Hayes, Fahy, and Brigid Comerford who was a Member in Charge on the 2nd arrest.
He said that he would require the 'members-in-charge' as witnesses in due course.

Bail was extended to cover the 4 extra charges, the existing bail of 5 EURO covering all 5 charges.

the case was adjourned until January 8th, in Shannon District Court.

Following this, Eoin approached the bench with a receipt for banners confiscated by the Gardai on the judge's orders on June 26

see http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=52923

and
http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=60560

The Judge did not recall the items, and asked Inspector Kennedy to remind him of the day. Inspector Kennedy said that there was an incident where two men "disrupted" the court and these materials were confiscated.
The Judge refused to return the items and told Mr. Rice to apply through the police property act.

by Ciaron Sun Dec 21, 2003 14:29

Our actions would be "invitational" rather than "accountable - may be you are confusing us with Ghandi and Ghandians and the trident Ploughshares Campaign. All good folks but a bit of difference.

We are all for mass nonviolent action, but it's hardly the faul of folks who turn up and resist that the actions aren't mass. One can't wait for the mass (in the First Woirld) before resisting....rocky road to silence and complicity!

by Claire Mon Dec 22, 2003 12:12 clairetreanor at hotmail dot com

He is just a man who has the courage of his convictions and who refuses to fear the faceless state. If there were a few more like him around then we really would have a movement and Bertie, Bush , Blair and their cohorts really would be shitting themselves. The continued harrassment of this brave and colourful character is a clear sign that he is causing at least some of the state's collaborators sleepless nights. More power to ye Eoin. Keep exercising those magnificent lungs of yours.

by - - postcards! Fri Feb 13, 2004 16:15

Limerick Prison.
mulgrave street.
Limerick.