This article is from page 11 of the 2007-04-24 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 11 JPG
GARDAI have refused to comment on an allegation that a Liscannor man has been “punched, kicked and beaten” by members of the force on numerous occasions over the last six eaeyelaetsy
Niall Harnett, of Clare Shell to Sea, claimed to have been the vic-
tim of harassment by members of the Gardai since October 2006.
Mr Harnett, who has an address in St Bridget’s Well, is one of a number of Clare people currently protesting against the construction of a Shell pipeline in Bellanaboy, Mayo.
“IT have done nothing wrong, nor ever been accused of any offense of law at Bellanaboy. I have been
punched, kicked and beaten by gardai. I’ve been forcibly searched on the street against my will and I have had personal property stolen and destroyed by gardai.”
Mr Harnett was arrested, but later released uncharged, following an altercation with gardai last Monday, April 16.
“IT have also been under constant
surveillance by gardai who film me constantly and refuse to give legal reasons for this.
“T asked them to stop filming and they refused. I informed them that I would be taking immediate action to protect my fundamental human and constitutional rights by physically di- recting their video camera away from myself. As a result, I was arrested.”
A Garda spokesman declined to comment on the specifics of the case but said, “Within reason, we would always explain what we are doing but not always.
“I have no first-hand experience of the situation up there but, from what I can see, everyone already seems to filming everyone else anyway,” he SP ALGe