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

Castlemartin, Kildare residence of O’Reilly

“Paramilitary style death threats have been made against workers on Shell's controversial Corrib gas pipeline project in Co Mayo, the Sunday Independent can reveal. The Sunday Independent has learned that two Scottish workers employed by the Norwegian-owned Statoil corporation were approached by a gang of men outside a pub in Belmullet and told they would be shot "in the back of the head".”

- Sunday Independent, July 17th, 2005.

People who suffer the misfortune of being regular readers of the rag known as the Sunday Independent may remember a series of literary assaults it ran last summer on the Shell to Sea campaign. As the weather improves and we enter a new ‘construction season’, so to does the chance of Shell attempting work, things hoting up here, and another parade of corporate media lies. So in the spirit of getting your retaliation in first here follows an exploration of the interests the O’Reilly Empire has in the privatisation of natural resources. Growing naturally from this is a look at what is entailed in that privatisation, at fresh developments in oil and gas in Ireland, and at the political issues involved in campaigning around this.

Related Links on Oil and Gas: Centre for Public Inquiry Providence Resources Gas Lads – Magill Article Irish Offshore Operators Association

Related Links on Media and O’Reilly: Attack on Corporate Greed Censored Independent News and Media Plc Guide to Independent News and Media Wikipedia on Independent News and Media Castlemartin Stud

SHELL NOT WANTED IN ROSSPORT

Syttende mai (May 17th) is commemorated every year by Norwegians all around the world, to mark their country's achievement of independence. A parade was held this morning in Dublin, when many members of the Norwegian community carried their country's flag along Grafton Street.

They were joined this year by members of the Shell to Sea campaign, who followed along behind with a section of Pipeline with PROPERTY OF STATOIL and NOT WANTED IN ROSSPORT printed on the side.

John Monaghan of Shell to Sea said: "This year in Ireland May 17th was also marked by Shell to Sea activists who want to point out the absurd situation whereby the people of Ireland will benefit nothing from the Corrib gas field, while the people of Norway will see the profits invested in their schools, hospitals, roads and pensions."