Independent Media Centre Ireland     http://www.indymedia.ie

Dublin: Secret Police Terrorise Young Family

category dublin | rights, freedoms and repression | news report author Tuesday August 21, 2007 14:13author by republican socialist

The membership of Dublin IRSP has reacted angrily to the latest persecution by the special branch on a member of the party and his family. Yesterday evening twelve members of the special branch raided his family home and physically assaulted one of his sons who answered the door. Four of his children ranging from 20 years of age to a child of 10 were home at the time watching television when they were confronted by twelve special branch officers wielding machine guns and handguns, they were thrown to the ground and handcuffed, whilst firearms were held to there heads. The children were informed by an individual later identified as Detective Sergeant O’Driscoll (Harcourt Street) that they had a warrant to search the house for firearms.

Resist Oppression!
Resist Oppression!

He then interrogated them about the whereabouts of there parents, where he was told that there mother was out shopping and there father was at work. They were then questioned about a number of people most of whom were members of Dublin IRSP. At around this time the mother of the house arrived home where she was dragged into the house by members of the special branch. She was pushed into the sitting room where her children were laying face down handcuffed and clearly traumatised. When she started screaming, she was told by O’ Driscoll that he was a member of special branch and that they had received information that weapons were been stored in the house and that her children were handcuffed as a precaution. She told him that it was total rubbish and to untie her kids immediately. When her children were untied, she was asked questions on her husband’s whereabouts, his association with named members of the IRSP, etc. She told them that her husband was at work and that she and her husband were life long republicans and any association with the individuals mentioned was purely of a legitimate political nature.

For over four hours, members of the special branch with specialised equipment tore there family home apart looking for imaginary weapons, in there frustration they tore out light fittings, smashed ornaments and kicked in doors, and all for what “NOTHING”. They took away IRSP tickets for an upcoming function, house keys, papers relating to her husbands business and a computer hard-drive, but what they left behind is a family totally traumatised by yesterday’s events. What words of comfort can be offered to a mother who witnessed her terrified children lying face down, handcuffed and frightened and her home turned upside down, and what makes it worse for this family is that the special branch can do what they want because they are a law upon themselves, that they are unaccountable for their actions. The family in question will be making a number of complaints to the police ombudsman in the coming days.

Related Link: http://www.irsm.org/irsp

Comments (10 of 10)

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author by incredulous.publication date Tue Aug 21, 2007 15:55author address author phone

Why would you waste time with the Ombudsman?
Take a private prosecution against the lot of them.
Did they even have a warrant?
Do them for assault.
If they broke any ornament too small to conceal a weapon (which they couldn't have simply looked inside of) do them for criminal damage.

author by charltonpublication date Wed Aug 22, 2007 21:14author address author phone

Sorry - weak joke. Sympathy with all victims of Garda violence & as the last commentator suggested - "take it to the ombudsman" but before that farce, calm your kids down & hold your self-respect & even consider some therapy.

author by Normal blokepublication date Thu Aug 23, 2007 18:57author address author phone

i suppose if i had a logo with an ak-47 on it, i would expect to be searched every now and then.

author by Barry - 32 csmpublication date Thu Aug 23, 2007 19:15author address author phone

It was the children of a republican who were searched and abused , not the IRSP member whom being under branch surveillance was clearly not on the premises .
This bunch of free state toerags , effectively run by the British intelligence services for the last 3 decades and more , harassed and hounded the victims of the Dublin Monaghan bombings for decades as well . They had no logo other than inconvenient . These kids had no logo either .
They are scum , corrupt scum and the lowest of the low .

This is the latest in a series of raids directed against IRSP members since the Republicn Unity commemoration in Bodenstown . This is quite obviously the states response to republican unity .

author by Scepticpublication date Fri Aug 24, 2007 09:38author address author phone

There are no secret police here. One has the impression that there are issues of criminality with the INLA and accordingly the Gardai keep an eye on them. Maybe I am wrong but that is the very widespread impression.

author by seamus o raghallaighpublication date Fri Aug 24, 2007 10:51author address author phone

Ah sceptic, how naieve you are to think theres no secret police in Eire. They are commonly known as the special branch and they are a law onto themselves. Anyone involved in republicanism can attest to this.
Go and read some Irish history from the last 30 years and youll find ample evidence of behaviour to match if not better that of the old east german stasi. Ask Nicky Kelly what the heavy gang did to him for example....

author by Scepticpublication date Fri Aug 24, 2007 12:31author address author phone

The Special Branch are not secret police nor are they unaccountable. However thy are concerned with counter terrorism and organized crime and insofar as the INLA is involved in these they will come to the adverse notice of the Special Branch. Is it your position that the INLA is not linked to narcotics and protection rackets as has been widely reported?

author by Barrypublication date Fri Aug 24, 2007 12:52author address author phone

What level of terrorism or organised crime where those people involved in ? Garda Special branch hounded them for about 2 decades so they must have done something serious ? Can you enlighten us as to what subversive or criminal activity they were involved in to merit that kind of treatment from garda special branch ? Please deny it so i can post the links .

Its incorrect to state that garda special branch are unnaccountable . Theyre only unnaccountable to the Irish people . Since the Baldonnel accords in 74 theyve effectivly been run by the British intelligence services . They have more British agents in their ranks than Sinn Fein . They are a menace to the Irish people and have colluded in some of this countrys wost terrorist atrocities . They are scum and the absolute lowest . Terrorising children is right up their street .

author by Scepticpublication date Fri Aug 24, 2007 15:11author address author phone

One presumes that the that reason that the Gardai are interested in people with INLA links is that the organization is a still extant paramilitary force which according to reports is involved with narcotics and protection rackets. Naturally enough those with INLA sympathies will try to smear the Gardai by accusations of harassment and the like.

author by Barry - 32 csmpublication date Fri Aug 24, 2007 15:30author address author phone

Garda Special branch are an armed force with a proven track record of thuggish activity , ranging from harassing innocent victims of British governemnt car bombings to grave robbing . They have a proven track record of being deeply infiltrated by the British intelligence services and assisting them in illegal and criminal activities south of the border . Under the Baldonnel accord they answer directly to the British intelligence services , who also train them . Their extra jurisdictional masters have engaged in every form of terrorism against civilians on both sides of the border for over 3 decades , from spraying packed pubs with machine gun fire to no warning car bombs during the Dublin rush hour . It is perfectly natural then that such a force will not only harass the families of a republican activist but terrorise and brutalise their children . They are scum , criminal scum .


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