Get your goodies here

The Ryder Cup is an occasion of horror to those who regard golf as a way of spoiling a good walk, or merely, an excuse to wear Rupert the Bear trousers in public. However, this major sporting event is coming to Ireland this September. There has been virtually no background investigation into the preparations. Until now...

In all, the Ryder Cup 2006 at the K Club is a sickening display of wealth, arrogance, and greed. It’s one of disregard and disdain for the Irish people, local community, and taxpayers. Mark Twain was right when he said golf spoiled a good walk, but he neglected to mention that it could be a great excuse for increasing the value of private property for a few at the public expense of the many.

Illegal posters

Based on the 1997 litter act, the policy of the Dublin City Council to ban all posters of public meetings has met much resistance over the last two years. The ban, which affected many campaigns was the reason the IAWM changed Stop Bush Posters to election posters in 2005 and spurred a Protest at Dublin City Council over the ban on advertising a Rossport 5 march in sept 2005. In November, Joan Collins first proposed a motion at Dublin City Council to change this policy.

At each subsequent City Council meeting attempts were made to get this motion on the agenda with protests starting back in December. The announcement of the January protest also pointed out DCC was breaking its own ban while the labour youth notice outlined the legal position of the 1997 litter act and queried its use to ban notices of public meetings. Fears over the anti-democratic nature of the ban seemed to be realised in February when DCC attempted to prevent a Finglas Bin Tax meeting by threatening the venue for the meeting on the basis of the ban. In February the Campaign for Free Speech in Dublin was founded to oppose the ban while an article in Phoenix magazine made the same points as the January posts to Indymedia. As resistance stepped up, activists started using stencils instead of posters and more protests were held at each city council meeting and at the mansion house. Finally, seven months after the motion proposed by Joan Collins and seconded by Dessie Ellis was initially tabled and more than two years after the Assistant County Manager, Owen Keegan decided that posters were to be banned, the Dublin City Council seems to have reversed this undemocratic ban

asylum seekers removed by gardaí

On Sunday May 14th, a group of up to 41 refugees from war-torn Afghanistan occupied St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin city centre after the Sunday Service. At least seven minors were among the group of men. The group were seeking refugee status in Ireland and decided to go on hunger strike after losing confidence in the asylum application process. Indymedia Ireland began its week-long coverage of this action with this report.

Last night, Saturday May 20th, at around 9:30pm, a large contingent from the Garda Public Order Unit, aka the riot squad, moved into the vicinity of the cathedral. Vans were parked in St Patrick's Close, obscuring the view of the cathedral entrance. The minors, who had previously been made 'wards of the court', i.e. taken into state care, were firstly removed by ambulance. The tension mounted at this point, as the hunger strikers had previously indicated they were prepared to self-harm if any attempt was made to forcibly remove them from St. Patrick's. However, after several hours of negotiation, the Afghans reluctantly came out without resorting to such drastic actions.

As the Garda vans arrived, a small crowd of counter-demonstrators had gathered near the entrance, chanting for the asylum seekers to be kicked out (audio). They were soon outnumbered by supporters of the Afghans, who quickly made their way to the cathedral when the news emerged that the Garda were preparing to move in. The men were put into Garda vans and driven away to chants of "let them stay". One man lay down in front of the vans as they were driving away, but was gently removed by Gardaí (audio). The counter-protestors at this point had been hurling missiles at supporters, and were separated from the main crowd by Gardaí.

Wheelock Family

The family of Terence Wheelock were attacked by Gardaí in their home in Summerhill in the centre of Dublin last night. Up to 30 Garda officers were involved in assaulting six members of the family, including a pregnant woman. Terence died from injuries he received in garda custody last year. His family have been highlighting his case for over six months since his life support machine was switched off after he never woke from a coma, and are calling for an independent public inquiry.

Robert, Terence's brother, recounts what happened. "My youngest brother was handing out leaflets for the protest outside Store St Garda Station on the 3rd of June. He's been getting hassle all the time from the Garda. A Garda saw him handing out leaflets and told him to get out of the area - but it was right across from the family house! My brother said to the Garda "I'm delivering these leaflets", and then the Garda jumped on him. All of a sudden a rake of police cars arrived in."

Racist Hecklers

This evening's anti-war vigil outside St Patrick's Cathedral attracted roughly 30 to 40 participants, including a number of schoolkids who had maintained a presence since 2pm. Just before the vigil began, one of these kids fainted and had to be removed by ambulance for medical attention.

Throughout the vigil - and for some time before - those there in solidarity, including the schoolkids, were subjected to repeated taunts, abuse and racist chants from a group of local teenagers.

Related Links: Update on Afghan Hunger Strike: Day 4 Wednesday | Belfast Solidarity Picket | Belfast Photos | Questions in the Dail | Statement from volunteer observer | Hunger Strike in Colnbrook Detention Centre | Colnbrook Hungerstrike Solidarity Page | Residents Against Racism | Picket at McDowell's constituency office this Friday | Bush Speech: The American Right Demands a Final Solution for Immigrants