No video footage to show if gardaí strip-searched pro-Palestinian Dáil protesters
Gardaí have refused to clarify the extent of searches carried out at pro-Palestinian protests as the Garda Commissioner confirmed that there is no video footage to disprove allegations of strip and cavity searches taking place.
It comes as Commissioner Drew Harris condemned the use of Dáil privilege to repeat the claims, which he insists are 'unfounded'.
An Garda Síochána found itself at the centre of a media storm when members of activist group Mothers Against Genocide claimed that they were subject to intimate searches after being arrested at a protest. The group protesting over the situation in Gaza. Pic: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie
Garda HQ quickly denied the claims, with Mr Harris saying he could 'categorically state' no such searches took place.
In a complaint to Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy over the repetition of these allegations under Dáil privilege, the Garda Commissioner said an internal review found that gardaí 'acted at all times professionally, lawfully, and in accordance with established procedures'.
He said the events of the protest and subsequent arrests were recorded on Garda body cameras that do not substantiate any allegations of wrongdoing – a point echoed by Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan, who said the searches did not happen. Garda Commissioner Drew Harris. Pic: Gareth Chaney/Collins
But Mr Harris also confirmed 'there are no recording devices in cells when prisoners are being searched'.
On April 1 the Dáil heard allegations that female protesters were strip-searched following the Mothers Against Genocide demonstration in late March, at which 11 people were arrested. The group also alleged that one arrested member had been subjected to a cavity search.
The claims were raised by People Before Profit-Solidarity TDs Richard Boyd-Barrett, Paul Murphy and Ruth Coppinger. In mid-April, the Garda Commissioner said he had ordered an inquiry into the allegations. Gardaí remove a protester at the Mothers Against Genocide demonstration held outside Leinster House last March.
Mr Harris also took issue with the fact that the 'inaccurate' claims were made by TDs under Dáil privilege. In his official complaint to Ms Murphy, Mr Harris condemned the 'erroneous statements' from the TDs and defended the actions of the female gardaí who conducted the searches. An Garda Síochána said in a statement that it still refutes the allegations made in the Dáil. However, a spokeswoman did not reply to requests from the Irish Daily Mail seeking clarification on what searches did take place.
The revelation over the lack of video footage of searches came despite the Justice Minister being told by the Garda Commissioner that video footage proved the strip or cavity searches did not take place.
This discrepancy was highlighted by TD Paul Murphy in a statement on Thursday. He said: 'Commissioner Harris in his letter states, 'There are no recording devices in cells when prisoners are being searched', but the [Justice] Minister, in his comments at the AGSI [Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors] conference on April 15 claiming our statements had been shown to be false, did not disclose this crucial information. TD Paul Murphy. Pic: Gareth Chaney/Collins Photos
'On the contrary, the minister said at the conference that any investigation 'will also have access to the recordings examined by the Commissioner'. But the Commissioner has now made it clear there are no such recordings. This letter from the Garda Commissioner vindicates our claims and proves that the minister misled the public.'
Mr O'Callaghan had said 'the Commissioner reported back to me… that his enquiries revealed that the allegations made by some members of Dáil Éireann were false'. A spokeswoman for the minister said he stands over his previous statement on the matter.
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