Car drives into demonstraters at Shannon
national |
anti-war / imperialism |
news report 
Tuesday December 09, 2003 20:48
by dunk
duncancrowley at hotmail dot com
White car 96 CE 1367- what can be done?
Saturday 8th December 2003 @ 4.03 pm White car (96 CE 1367) drove into a protest, knocking someone onto his bonnet
gardai were informed
what to do now?
have you any pix or film, did you witness it
After the demo, @ 4.00, last Saturday a crowd had lingered for some time around a main roundabout .
(Roundabout between 4 and 6 on map http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=62605)
A lot of gardai and riot squad were blocking off the north western edge which led back into the industrial estate.
Some incident happened away from the roundabout and many people moved over to that, there were only a few people still by the main roundabout.
2 cars were attempting to get through the demo and a garda was spotted waving on the first (white) car to make an attempt to go through.
I went over to the driver of the first car (white 96 CE 1367 ) and politely informed him “that there was still a demonstration on and that he wouldn’t be getting through so the best thing for him to do would be to reverse and head in a different route”- he responded, quite angrily about “hippies and protestors” so I just told him I was informing him of the situation and went back to where I had been previous, a few meters in front of the car. He then edged foreword a bit. I shouted to a few protestors nearby and they came over, he edged foreword further and I walked up to the front of the car and waved my arms saying “you’re not getting through”. He then put the foot down and drove into me, knocking me onto the bonnet of his car. I had not expected this and was a bit shook. By this stage many protestors ran over to the car and things got heated. The gardai ran over and tried to force the protestors from the car
(http://www.indymedia.org.uk/media/2003/12/282597.wmv shows a scene from this, where a protestor opens the passenger car door- it’s about 5 minutes into the film)
im not too sure what exactly happened next because I told a garda that I had been driven into- I gave him my details and he said the details of the driver had been taken
he was Garda XXXXX-XXXXX [edited out at poster's request. Details are with author]
he asked me if i had any injuries, there were 2 black marks on the right knee of my trousers and when i rolled up my trousers, there was a small bit of skin that had a small bit of blood just formed on it. he said to give him a call later
the driver then started insisting that he was going to a funeral, perhaps he was? But wearing sports clothes and heading into the industrial area makes that a bit odd?
Protestors said he would be quicker reversing out and heading away as he was not getting through the blockade
He eventually did, after engaging in more heated words with an indymedia cameraman
after this a radio reporter from griffith college radio interviewed me.
I talked to the legal support team about what I should do, and I have talked to 2 legal people subsequently. I will contact the garda soon
I have looked around and have not found any report of this incident, both in mainstream media and indymedia. Id be grateful if people could add any photos that they have of the incident, add their report of the incident, or a short film piece if they have it
im not sure what i should really do- i would just like the public to know that this sort of carry on happened
thanks in advance
dunk
Comments (13 of 13)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13things got quite heated
White car 96 CE 1367
seemed extremely aggressive to everyone. I was on the other side of the road when it happend. When I did go over, he was leaning out of his car giving quite a bit of abuse to protestors, especially a few that were masked. (which wasnt the smartest thing to do) The police saw that he was being overly aggressive and firmly insisted that he get back into his car.
The rest is a blur. Sorry
i hav the whole thing on tape!!! in fact i handed the camera to a mate and he was holding it while he got hit by the car too!!!
so it gets all muffled! but u can see the bonnet of the car slam in to him!
yeah i saw the whole thing. he was gettin fairly aggressive especially when half the BB's fell onto the bonnet after he drove into them. for a chap that was going to a funeral he was fairly casually dressed... plus i saw him up at lidl about 2 hours later, sprogs in tow. who incidentally also didnt look like they were going to a funeral...
if soeone deliberately drives into a crowd, it should be dangerous driving. the gardai obviously are not going to do anything. someone will have to make a formal complaint.
this could take 3 forms:
1. one of those who were struck by the car complains. they are in the best position to go to cops,press charges and even seek civil damages. post stress trauma etc.
2. those who have the photo evidence make a complaint to cops and lodge evidence.
3. make a complaint to garda complaints tribunal. the cops were in dereliction of their duty for not taking action against the psycho.
ed, do you plan to upload that vid piece to indymedia, if you are not sure how and would like to, let me know
im looking foreward to seeing it again
i will be contacting the garda mentioned above later today. waiting for further legal advice
was anyone else hurt, did anyone else make a complaint to the gardai?
http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=62605
on Monday's Star -there's a photo of yer man from a different angle.
Also, Radio Kerry rang me and Dubsky for interviews and they brought this incident up on air.
I explained that the demo guidleines would allow vehicles through for emergencies, and that if someone needed to get through for something, fire, ambulance or funeral all they need do is ask in a calm manner. I explained that this guy did not ask, but simply drove at people, without regard for creating 10 more funerals.
Not sure why he was waved through, we can't even be sure if he was going to a funeral or not, maybe he just doesn't like peace activists, but he sure needs to learn how to behave in public.
He's obviously some kind of pro war pro FF type. Maybe people should find out were he lives and have a few 'word' with him in the local dark alley
Also i intend to make an official complaint against a garda who was trying to move me from the roundabout where we sat.
He attempted to move me by the hair. while a buddy of mine was there and witness the whole thing more witness's can only help. let me state at this stage i expect absolutely no joy on this issue but i think all incidences of this nature should be reported. Not had a chance to seek legal advice yet (I'm a working hippy) so dont want to jepordise any possible statements by providing too much info. I have his number and would recognise him again (he was massive)
Oh and thats a million who shouted at the gaurd involved and persued him to let me go......Sound!! and fair play to everyone who travelled
My e-mail adress, sorry
finglemcingle@campus.ie
Compare and contrast the following two examples.
(a) Peace activist Eoin Rice missed the demo because of alleged dangerous driving in an otherwise empty carpark. Nobody is hurt and no property is damaged other than the BlackPopeMobile which has it's window smashed by Gardai.
He is held for 12 hours and charged with an offence.
(b) an unknown man tries to drive a car over/through a crowd of people. He is not formally cautioned even though some people are injured.
Please keep your answer to less than 1000 words explaining why (a) and (b) are not signs of double standards and/or deliberate garda targetting of prominent activists.
The best entry will win a job as a FF spin doctor.
anyone hear anything further
ta
dunk
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