For Lefties too Stubborn to Quit
A telling example of how this society is structured? 01:31 Mon Feb 13, 2012 | WorldbyStorm
RIA Lunchtime Lecture Series 14:43 Sun Feb 12, 2012 | WorldbyStorm
Sunday Independent Stupid Statement of the Week 11:42 Sun Feb 12, 2012 | Garibaldy
KKE At the Acropolis on Day 2 of the General Strike 21:13 Sat Feb 11, 2012 | Garibaldy
Bit?s and pieces: Weekend edition, Steve Kilbey and Sophie Koh cover the Go-Betweens, Borgen ? is i... 08:42 Sat Feb 11, 2012 | WorldbyStorm Cedar Lounge >>
It's a group blog. What more do you need to know?
POT OF GOLD OR FOOL?S GOLD, by Richard Murphy (2010) 21:55 Sun Feb 12, 2012
UNLOCK NAMA TALK - 28 JAN 2012 09:34 Sat Feb 11, 2012
GILMORE DECLARES GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL UNITY - HE JUST FORGETS TO TELL THE NATION 12:22 Fri Feb 10, 2012
A MASTERCLASS IN IRISH COMPRADOR/MIDDLEMAN CAPITALISM, COURTESY OF TONY O?REILLY JNR 09:41 Fri Feb 10, 2012
I ALWAYS KNEW SHATTER WAS A BAD ?UN?.. 05:24 Fri Feb 10, 2012 Dublin Opinion >>
Joined up thinking for the Irish Left
February issue of Socialist Voice is out now Sun Feb 12, 2012 22:33 | CPOI
A MASTERCLASS IN IRISH COMPRADOR/MIDDLEMAN CAPITALISM, COURTESY OF TONY O?REILLY... Fri Feb 10, 2012 10:11 | Conor McCabe
The Finance Bill: To Those that Have . . . Thu Feb 09, 2012 16:00 | Michael Taft
Catastrophic Event Thu Feb 09, 2012 13:19 | Aiden Lloyd
Europe?s largest economic failure is not in Greece - but in the UK, Italy and Sp... Wed Feb 08, 2012 14:08 | John Ross Irish Left Review >>
A shot at bias in the media
The web's political rainbow Wed Dec 07, 2011 09:47
The Forgotten Constituency: The Majority and The Irish Economic Crisis Fri Mar 11, 2011 11:49
A curse on the zombie establishment Tue Sep 21, 2010 15:11
'Officials say', 'officials say', 'according to an official' Tue Jul 27, 2010 17:05
'The false reality of news journalism' Fri Jul 02, 2010 13:15 MediaBite >>
|
Gardaí fined for assaulting protester who tried to film them
national |
crime and justice |
other press
Monday December 07, 2009 17:27 by Buck Owen

Legal to film gardaí, says judge.
A court has upheld the right of a private citizen to film gardaí. A judge found the person filming to acting lawfully and within his rights, and fined the two members of the Garda Siochána who assaulted him to prevent him filming to have acted illegally. They were given small fines, even though they pleaded not guilty and lied to the court about the nature of the assault.
There is no law against filming anyone in a public place in Ireland, and that includes the police. If they don't want to be caught on camera doing something, then they shouldn't be doing it.
Lastly, can you imagine what the sentence would be for a protester who grabbed a garda and assaulted him to stop him filming?

Evening Herald Article
http://www.herald.ie/national-news/city-news/gardai-ass....html
TWO gardai have been found guilty of assaulting a passer-by who filmed officers.
Eoin Lawless was dragged up against a garda van and kneed in the back of the legs when he refused to hand over his camera, a court heard.
Garda Gavin Keegan (28) and Garda Damien Kildea (26) pleaded not guilty and claimed Mr Lawless fell off his bicycle during a tussle for the camera.
Read the full article at O'Reilly rag The Evening Herald here (click on their ads, they need the money):
http://www.herald.ie/national-news/city-news/gardai-ass....html
Garda Kildea said he saw Mr Lawless recording and he genuinely felt what he was doing was wrong, though he said he now realised he had no legal right to take the camera. A judge said Mr Lawless was going about his lawful business, and the gardai did not act lawfully.
|
View Comments Titles Only
save preference
Comments (2 of 2)
Jump To Comment: 1 2Gavin Keegan and Garda Damien Kildea claimed they were not guilty, but then they were convicted of assault. There should have been charges brought against them for lying to the court and disciplinary action ought to be taken against them from their own organsiation. They should be sacked.
Or will they be quietly promoted and given a clap on the back?
Fair play to ya Eoin for facing them down. The culture of Garda impunity is like a cancer in Ireland right now. It took courage to stick your ground against the bullies. Every little victory counts. For once a sensible decision from an Irish court. Easy knowing it did not take place in Rossport.