Latest news with #PublicProsecutionService
RTÉ News
15 hours ago
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Arrest of woman, 74, at Belfast rally criticised
A 74-year-old woman, who was arrested in Belfast for wearing a T-shirt expressing support for the banned organisation Palestine Action, has been released from police custody. She was detained during an anti-racism rally in the city yesterday. Police said she had been released pending a report to the Public Prosecution Service. Videos posted online showed police officers in Belfast telling the woman she was being detained under anti-terrorism legislation for wearing the T-shirt in support of the organisation. It read: "We are all Palestine Action". In a video an officer is heard telling the woman she is being arrested under Article 13 of the Terrorism Act for "possession of an article namely a sign on a T-shirt that indicates support for Palestine Action." The woman offers passive resistance to her arrest. Several officers then lift, carry and drag her to a waiting police van which is driven off. In a statement the PSNI said: "A 74-year-old woman arrested on suspicion of possession of an article that indicates support for a proscribed organisation in the Linenhall Street area of Belfast on Saturday 9 August has been released pending a report to the public prosecution service." The woman's arrest was criticised by politicians and human rights activists. Northern Ireland Director of Amnesty UK Patrick Corrigan criticised the police, describing the woman's arrest as "outrageous". "Peaceful protest is a basic human right. Many people are justifiably angered by the ongoing genocide in Gaza and are concerned about UK complicity. Under international human rights law, they have every right to voice their concerns. "The individual who joined a Refugees Welcome rally in Belfast was not promoting violence, and it is wholly disproportionate for the PSNI to treat her as a terrorist. "UK terrorism laws pose a serious risk to free expression. Rather than targeting peaceful protesters, the government should be taking swift and decisive measures to end Israel's genocide." Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan said an attempt was being made to criminalise people who chose to stand against the war in Gaza. "The British government's attempts to criminalise the Palestinian solidarity movement, and the subsequent actions of the PSNI in enforcing this draconian legislation, have been disgraceful. "While Keir Starmer continues to enable the ongoing Israeli genocide and starvation of Gazans, he is also moving to silence ordinary, decent people for speaking out." Meanwhile in Derry yesterday, some of those who attended an anti-war protest in the city also flouted the law, displaying posters in support of Palestine Action. They said it was ironic that they could be criminalised for holding a poster, when the international community was failing to prevent a genocide in Gaza. In July, Palestine Action was added to a list of groups banned under UK terror legislation, which also covers Northern Ireland. MPs voted to ban the group after members broke into RAF Brize Norton in England and sprayed a number of military planes with paint. Palestine Action is due to challenge its prohibition in the UK courts in the autumn. Yesterday, in London, police arrested 474 people at a demonstration in support of Palestine Action, which has also carried out protests at firms it links to the Israeli military.
BBC News
16 hours ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Woman released after arrest at Belfast protest
A 74-year-old woman who was arrested during an anti-racism rally in Belfast city centre has been released, pending a report to the Public Prosecution was detained in Linenhall Street on Saturday afternoon on suspicion of possession of an article that indicates support for a proscribed woman was wearing a T-shirt with the slogan "We are all Palestine Action".Palestine Action became a proscribed organisation in July under the Terrorism Act, making membership of or support for the group a criminal offence. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) had previously issued a statement claiming the woman arrested was 62 years old. This has since been corrected. A 43-year-old man arrested on suspicion of disorderly behaviour has been issued with a Community Resolution rights organisation Amnesty said he was from a "small anti-immigration counter protest".In London, police arrested 474 people on Saturday at a demonstration in support of Palestine Metropolitan Police said 466 protesters were arrested for supporting the group, five for assaults on police officers, two for public order offences, and one for a racially aggravated voted to proscribe the group after activists broke into RAF Brize Norton in June, spraying two Voyager aircraft with red paint and causing £7m worth of damage. Palestine Action said it was behind the incident.
BreakingNews.ie
18 hours ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Two teenagers charged in relation to disorder in Derry in June
Two teenage boys have been charged in relation to disorder that broke out in Derry in June. The teenagers, both 17, are to appear before a youth court on Tuesday, August 19th. Advertisement One of the two has been charged with riotous behaviour, while the other has been charged with intentionally encouraging or assisting a riot. The charges will be reviewed by the Public Prosecution Service, as is procedure. The disorder broke out in the Nailors Row area of Derry on the night of June 17th, and three police officers were injured.
Sunday World
5 days ago
- Sunday World
Man charged after stolen car collides with taxi and damages police vehicles
Two police vehicles were damaged in the pursuit which began when officers spotted the vehicle on Monday in the Falls Road area of Belfast A 33-year-old man has been charged with a number of offences following a police pursuit in Belfast. Police in west Belfast charged the man with offences including dangerous driving, driving when unfit through drink or drugs, aggravated vehicle taking causing damage, using a motor vehicle without insurance and having no driving licence. Two police vehicles were damaged in the pursuit which began when officers spotted the vehicle on Monday in the Falls Road area, a day after it was reported stolen. The man is due to appear at Belfast Magistrates' Court tomorrow, Wednesday 6 August. As is normal procedure all charges will be reviewed by the Public Prosecution Service. The charges are in connection with a pursuit in Belfast on Monday involving a suspected stolen red Citroen C4 car. The suspected stolen car was spotted being driven erratically in the city centre before crashing, according to police. Chief Inspector Pete Cunningham said District Support Team officers observed that the red Citroen C4 'was being driven erratically and collided with a taxi, which was carrying passengers, near the junction of Royal Avenue and Donegal Street, before making off at speed and being abandoned in the area of Donegal Quay'. Following the man's arrest, Chief Inspector Cunningham said: 'Our officers dedicate themselves to the communities they serve, often at great risk to themselves. "While any injury to our officers or members of the public is completely unacceptable, thankfully, on this occasion, we are not dealing with more serious consequences as a result of this reckless behaviour. 'Damage to police vehicles often requires them to be off the road for repairs, and this impacts on service delivery to the public. 'Anyone with information, including dashcam or other video footage, is asked to contact police on 101, quoting reference 1914 of 4/8/25.' A police car damaged was damaged in the pursuit News in 90 Seconds - Tuesday, August 5th
Belfast Telegraph
5 days ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Man charged after stolen car collides with taxi and damages PSNI vehicles
Police in west Belfast charged the man with offences including dangerous driving, driving when unfit through drink or drugs, aggravated vehicle taking causing damage, using a motor vehicle without insurance and having no driving licence. Two police vehicles were damaged in the pursuit which began when officers spotted the vehicle on Monday in the Falls Road area, a day after it was reported stolen. The man is due to appear at Belfast Magistrates' Court tomorrow, Wednesday 6 August. As is normal procedure all charges will be reviewed by the Public Prosecution Service. News Catch Up - Tuesday 5th August The charges are in connection with a pursuit in Belfast on Monday involving a suspected stolen red Citroen C4 car. The suspected stolen car was spotted being driven erratically in the city centre before crashing, according to police. Chief Inspector Pete Cunningham said District Support Team officers observed that the red Citroen C4 'was being driven erratically and collided with a taxi, which was carrying passengers, near the junction of Royal Avenue and Donegal Street, before making off at speed and being abandoned in the area of Donegal Quay'. Following the man's arrest, Chief Inspector Cunningham said: 'Our officers dedicate themselves to the communities they serve, often at great risk to themselves. "While any injury to our officers or members of the public is completely unacceptable, thankfully, on this occasion, we are not dealing with more serious consequences as a result of this reckless behaviour. 'Damage to police vehicles often requires them to be off the road for repairs, and this impacts on service delivery to the public. 'Anyone with information, including dashcam or other video footage, is asked to contact police on 101, quoting reference 1914 of 4/8/25.'
