On Mother’s Day the group Mothers Against Genocide began their vigil in remembrance of the mothers and children killed in the war in Gaza in front of Leinster House. After a subsequent overnight encampment in front of the entrance to the Dáil, multiple members of the group were arrested by An Garda Síochána. The protesters, calling for the enactment of the Occupied Territories Bill, were first warned by gardai to remove the photographs and clear out the entrance; however, after their resistance, the situation escalated.
In a statement, the Garda stated that it acted according to the Public Order Act and began arrests after non-compliance “for offences contrary to the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994”. Further, they detailed that “10 females (20s, 30s, 40s and 50s) and one male (20s) were arrested under Section 8 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994”, with three additional men being arrested and charged.
The Mothers Against Genocide Group have since responded via their Instagram, stating that “This was a heavy-handed state response to mothers protesting the slaughter of mothers and children that our government is complicit in. There was no escalation from Mothers Against Genocide.”
Additionally, they countered the Garda statement saying that “The gates were locked and were not being used to access the Dáil. At no time was public access blocked” and that ministers were made aware of the protest and were invited to meet the protesting mothers. None of the contacted ministers met with the group.
The group’s post also alleged that some women were strip searched by the Garda.
Videos of the arrests have been circulating social media since Monday morning prompting a response from the People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett who spoke before the Dáil today stating that it was a “sit down protest” when referencing the alleged violence used by the Gardaí. Boyd Barrett also called the behaviour in question “absolutely disgusting”.
Taoiseach Michael Martin however enforced the Gardaí’s position, stating that the Gardaí were within their rights to act under the Public Order Act and subsequently arrest people for their non-compliance.
The protest then continued near Leinster House where Labour leader Ivana Bacik, Social Democrat TDs Rory Hearne and Gary Gannon, and People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy met the mothers.
In a statement to The Irish Times, member of the group Megan Ní Ghabhláin called the incident a “complete escalation and absolutely unnecessary, but it also gives an indication of where the priorities of the Garda lie”.
