Two women arrested during pro-Palestine rally quizzed under caution amid protest outside PSNI station

Belfast Telegraph

7 hours ago

Long-standing campaigner and member of Jews for Palestine Ireland, Sue Pentel (72) were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage during a rally outside a Barclays bank branch on Castle Place on Saturday, May 24.
Martine McCullough, who is aged in her 50s, was also arrested in connection with the same alleged incident said to have occurred at an earlier demonstration during which stickers were placed on an ATM.
Solicitor Padraig Ó Muirigh, who is representing both suspects, said his office was contacted by the PSNI to confirm both his clients would be quizzed by detectives in relation to a protest that took place at the same location on April 26, 2025.
"A protest has been organised by supporters of our clients at 11am this morning at Musgrave Street police station when our clients are due to arrive to be interviewed by the PSNI,' he said in a statement issued on Wednesday morning.
Fellow campaigners staged a protest in solidarity with the pair outside the PSNI station.
Activists applauded and chanted 'we're with you' as both women arrived to be questioned.
A defiant Ms Pentel said they are 'proud to peacefully protest outside Barclays' which they have been doing it for the last eight months.
The Jewish grandmother also vowed to keep raising her voice.
'To protest the genocide, to protest the violence, to protest the way that Israel feels its OK to starve children, to stop humanitarian aid while the world looks on," Ms Pentel continued.
'Well, we won't look on, we won't remain silent.
'We understand that we've been asked to be interviewed under caution, and we're voluntarily going in about an incident on April 26 and all we can say is we're proud to demonstrate with our amazing colleagues every week outside Barclays.
'We have the right to peacefully protest, we want to thank our solicitor Padraig O Muirigh for his time and advice.
'We have the right to peacefully protest and we will continue to do it until the genocide stops.
'We're two grandmothers, when our grandchildren ask us what we did, we know what we'll say, we stood up, we spoke out, we weren't silent, and as a Jewish person I am absolutely ashamed of anybody either Israeli Jewish or London Jewish or wherever who doesn't stand up and who thinks this is OK.'
Israel has been widely criticised for its military operation in Gaza launched in response to a deadly Hamas terror attack on October 7, 2023.
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Militants wore cameras to record the massacre which resulted in 1,200 people being killed including hundreds of young people attending a music festival in Israel.
Hamas also took 251 hostages and dozens remain in captivity with less than half believed to still be alive.
According to the Hamas-run health ministry, more than 55,000 Palestinians have died since the current conflict began.
The International Criminal Court has previously issued arrest warrants for Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and the country's former defence minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes which Israel denies. A warrant was also issued for a Hamas commander.
Ms Pentel and Ms McCullough previously complained about "being criminalised" for their views on the conflict in the Middle East and insisted they were engaged in peaceful protest – they both refuted allegations of criminal damage.
The PSNI defended its stance saying that body-cam footage was reviewed and the officer's actions were "lawful and proportionate".
Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson previously said that while the right to both freedom of speech and assembly are "fundamental human rights... they must be balanced with the need to uphold the rights of others, protect public health and safety, minimise disruption to normal life and by the need to prevent and detect crime."
Barclays has become a target for pro-Palestine protesters who claim the bank is linked to companies supplying weapons to Israel.
The firm has previously expressed concerns that it has become the target of a disinformation campaign and addressed criticism by pointing out it provides financial services to nine defence companies supplying Israel, but does not directly invest in such firms.