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Glasgow Times
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Peaceful protest ‘should not be criminalised', says O'Toole
Stormont Opposition Leader Matthew O'Toole was speaking following the arrest of two protesters in Belfast on Saturday. Sue Pentel, a high-profile campaigner against Israel's military offensive in the Gaza Strip, was one of two women detained by officers on suspicion of criminal damage. Videos circulated online of the arrest of the 72-year-old indicate the alleged offence related to the placing of stickers on a bank's ATM machine. Ms Pentel and the other woman who was arrested, who is in her 50s, were released later on Saturday pending a report to Northern Ireland's Public Prosecution Service (PPS). Stormont Opposition leader Matthew O'Toole said peaceful protest is a 'profound right' in a democracy (Liam McBurney/PA) Mr O'Toole mentioned the arrests during Members' Statements in the Assembly on Tuesday morning. However Stormont Speaker Edwin Poots warned MLAs against 'second-guessing' police. Mr O'Toole told MLAs: 'It's important to say there is no more profound right in a democracy than peaceful protest. 'Over the weekend we saw dozens more innocent people lose their lives in Gaza as a result of the bombardment by the Netanyahu regime. We are witnessing an ongoing genocide in Gaza. 'People from all over this region, from all backgrounds, all ages, all perspectives are completely, frankly, in disbelief at what they see on their screens. They want some form of registering protest, dissent and challenging what is happening in the Middle East. 'One means is through peaceful protest. 'One of the people who was arrested is a woman named Sue Pentel, who is in her 70s. She also just happens to be Jewish. She will be known to people here because she is often here, peacefully and respectfully engaging with MLAs on her views in relation to the Middle East.' He went on: 'I understand that the PSNI has a difficult job to do. 'I don't trivialise the fact that in fast-moving situations sometimes there are judgments that have to be made by police officers, but I don't think anybody, certainly not the dozens and dozens of my constituents who are, frankly, appalled by what's happening in Gaza, who have emailed me in the last few days to say 'What the hell is going on in our society whenever a peaceful protest is met with arrests of pensioners?' 'Peaceful protest in Belfast city centre, even if it is a minor convenience, is not something which should be criminalised. 'That is legitimate peaceful protest and, yes, I respect that police officers have a job to do in all these circumstances, but let's please be proportionate and respect the rights of ordinary people to register dissent and protest.' Stormont Assembly Speaker Edwin Poots warned MLAs against 'second-guessing' police (Liam McBurney/PA) Mr Poots urged caution on comments around live investigations: 'I just want to make it very clear that the police have a role to do, and it's not our place to be second-guessing that role. 'There are a number of matters of the day and urgent questions that were put in that related to different events that have taken place, questioning police, and I think that we need to be very, very careful whenever there is a live investigation. 'This hasn't got to the stage of there being charges, and may never get to that stage, but there is a live investigation and it's not our role in this House to influence police decisions on investigations. 'They have to go through their course, it goes to the PPS, there is a due process to happen there, and it's not for us to seek to influence that. 'I just caution Members on that issue.'
Western Telegraph
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Western Telegraph
Peaceful protest ‘should not be criminalised', says O'Toole
Stormont Opposition Leader Matthew O'Toole was speaking following the arrest of two protesters in Belfast on Saturday. Sue Pentel, a high-profile campaigner against Israel's military offensive in the Gaza Strip, was one of two women detained by officers on suspicion of criminal damage. Videos circulated online of the arrest of the 72-year-old indicate the alleged offence related to the placing of stickers on a bank's ATM machine. Ms Pentel and the other woman who was arrested, who is in her 50s, were released later on Saturday pending a report to Northern Ireland's Public Prosecution Service (PPS). Stormont Opposition leader Matthew O'Toole said peaceful protest is a 'profound right' in a democracy (Liam McBurney/PA) Mr O'Toole mentioned the arrests during Members' Statements in the Assembly on Tuesday morning. However Stormont Speaker Edwin Poots warned MLAs against 'second-guessing' police. Mr O'Toole told MLAs: 'It's important to say there is no more profound right in a democracy than peaceful protest. 'Over the weekend we saw dozens more innocent people lose their lives in Gaza as a result of the bombardment by the Netanyahu regime. We are witnessing an ongoing genocide in Gaza. 'People from all over this region, from all backgrounds, all ages, all perspectives are completely, frankly, in disbelief at what they see on their screens. They want some form of registering protest, dissent and challenging what is happening in the Middle East. 'One means is through peaceful protest. 'One of the people who was arrested is a woman named Sue Pentel, who is in her 70s. She also just happens to be Jewish. She will be known to people here because she is often here, peacefully and respectfully engaging with MLAs on her views in relation to the Middle East.' He went on: 'I understand that the PSNI has a difficult job to do. 'I don't trivialise the fact that in fast-moving situations sometimes there are judgments that have to be made by police officers, but I don't think anybody, certainly not the dozens and dozens of my constituents who are, frankly, appalled by what's happening in Gaza, who have emailed me in the last few days to say 'What the hell is going on in our society whenever a peaceful protest is met with arrests of pensioners?' 'Peaceful protest in Belfast city centre, even if it is a minor convenience, is not something which should be criminalised. 'That is legitimate peaceful protest and, yes, I respect that police officers have a job to do in all these circumstances, but let's please be proportionate and respect the rights of ordinary people to register dissent and protest.' Stormont Assembly Speaker Edwin Poots warned MLAs against 'second-guessing' police (Liam McBurney/PA) Mr Poots urged caution on comments around live investigations: 'I just want to make it very clear that the police have a role to do, and it's not our place to be second-guessing that role. 'There are a number of matters of the day and urgent questions that were put in that related to different events that have taken place, questioning police, and I think that we need to be very, very careful whenever there is a live investigation. 'This hasn't got to the stage of there being charges, and may never get to that stage, but there is a live investigation and it's not our role in this House to influence police decisions on investigations. 'They have to go through their course, it goes to the PPS, there is a due process to happen there, and it's not for us to seek to influence that. 'I just caution Members on that issue.'
BreakingNews.ie
27-05-2025
- General
- BreakingNews.ie
MLAs discuss arrest of Palestine activists for allegedly putting stickers on bank ATM
Peaceful protest should not be 'criminalised', the Northern Assembly has heard. Stormont Opposition Leader Matthew O'Toole was speaking following the arrest of two protesters in Belfast on Saturday. Advertisement Sue Pentel, a high-profile campaigner against Israel's military offensive in the Gaza Strip, was one of two women detained by officers on suspicion of criminal damage. Videos circulated online of the arrest of the 72-year-old indicate the alleged offence related to the placing of stickers on a bank's ATM machine. Ms Pentel and the other woman who was arrested, who is in her 50s, were released later on Saturday pending a report to the North's Public Prosecution Service (PPS). Stormont Opposition leader Matthew O'Toole said peaceful protest is a 'profound right' in a democracy (Liam McBurney/PA) Mr O'Toole mentioned the arrests during Members' Statements in the Assembly on Tuesday morning. Advertisement However Stormont Speaker Edwin Poots warned MLAs against 'second-guessing' police. Mr O'Toole told MLAs: 'It's important to say there is no more profound right in a democracy than peaceful protest. 'Over the weekend we saw dozens more innocent people lose their lives in Gaza as a result of the bombardment by the Netanyahu regime. We are witnessing an ongoing genocide in Gaza. 'People from all over this region, from all backgrounds, all ages, all perspectives are completely, frankly, in disbelief at what they see on their screens. They want some form of registering protest, dissent and challenging what is happening in the Middle East. Advertisement 'One means is through peaceful protest. 'One of the people who was arrested is a woman named Sue Pentel, who is in her 70s. She also just happens to be Jewish. She will be known to people here because she is often here, peacefully and respectfully engaging with MLAs on her views in relation to the Middle East.' He went on: 'I understand that the PSNI has a difficult job to do. 'I don't trivialise the fact that in fast-moving situations sometimes there are judgments that have to be made by police officers, but I don't think anybody, certainly not the dozens and dozens of my constituents who are, frankly, appalled by what's happening in Gaza, who have emailed me in the last few days to say 'What the hell is going on in our society whenever a peaceful protest is met with arrests of pensioners?' Advertisement 'Peaceful protest in Belfast city centre, even if it is a minor convenience, is not something which should be criminalised. 'That is legitimate peaceful protest and, yes, I respect that police officers have a job to do in all these circumstances, but let's please be proportionate and respect the rights of ordinary people to register dissent and protest.' Stormont Assembly Speaker Edwin Poots warned MLAs against 'second-guessing' police (Liam McBurney/PA) Mr Poots urged caution on comments around live investigations: 'I just want to make it very clear that the police have a role to do, and it's not our place to be second-guessing that role. 'There are a number of matters of the day and urgent questions that were put in that related to different events that have taken place, questioning police, and I think that we need to be very, very careful whenever there is a live investigation. Advertisement Ireland Department of Foreign Affairs targeted with graffi... Read More 'This hasn't got to the stage of there being charges, and may never get to that stage, but there is a live investigation and it's not our role in this House to influence police decisions on investigations. 'They have to go through their course, it goes to the PPS, there is a due process to happen there, and it's not for us to seek to influence that. 'I just caution Members on that issue.'
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Peaceful protest ‘should not be criminalised', says O'Toole
Peaceful protest should not be 'criminalised', the Northern Ireland Assembly has heard. Stormont Opposition Leader Matthew O'Toole was speaking following the arrest of two protesters in Belfast on Saturday. Sue Pentel, a high-profile campaigner against Israel's military offensive in the Gaza Strip, was one of two women detained by officers on suspicion of criminal damage. Videos circulated online of the arrest of the 72-year-old indicate the alleged offence related to the placing of stickers on a bank's ATM machine. Ms Pentel and the other woman who was arrested, who is in her 50s, were released later on Saturday pending a report to Northern Ireland's Public Prosecution Service (PPS). Mr O'Toole mentioned the arrests during Members' Statements in the Assembly on Tuesday morning. However Stormont Speaker Edwin Poots warned MLAs against 'second-guessing' police. Mr O'Toole told MLAs: 'It's important to say there is no more profound right in a democracy than peaceful protest. 'Over the weekend we saw dozens more innocent people lose their lives in Gaza as a result of the bombardment by the Netanyahu regime. We are witnessing an ongoing genocide in Gaza. 'People from all over this region, from all backgrounds, all ages, all perspectives are completely, frankly, in disbelief at what they see on their screens. They want some form of registering protest, dissent and challenging what is happening in the Middle East. 'One means is through peaceful protest. 'One of the people who was arrested is a woman named Sue Pentel, who is in her 70s. She also just happens to be Jewish. She will be known to people here because she is often here, peacefully and respectfully engaging with MLAs on her views in relation to the Middle East.' He went on: 'I understand that the PSNI has a difficult job to do. 'I don't trivialise the fact that in fast-moving situations sometimes there are judgments that have to be made by police officers, but I don't think anybody, certainly not the dozens and dozens of my constituents who are, frankly, appalled by what's happening in Gaza, who have emailed me in the last few days to say 'What the hell is going on in our society whenever a peaceful protest is met with arrests of pensioners?' 'Peaceful protest in Belfast city centre, even if it is a minor convenience, is not something which should be criminalised. 'That is legitimate peaceful protest and, yes, I respect that police officers have a job to do in all these circumstances, but let's please be proportionate and respect the rights of ordinary people to register dissent and protest.' Mr Poots urged caution on comments around live investigations: 'I just want to make it very clear that the police have a role to do, and it's not our place to be second-guessing that role. 'There are a number of matters of the day and urgent questions that were put in that related to different events that have taken place, questioning police, and I think that we need to be very, very careful whenever there is a live investigation. 'This hasn't got to the stage of there being charges, and may never get to that stage, but there is a live investigation and it's not our role in this House to influence police decisions on investigations. 'They have to go through their course, it goes to the PPS, there is a due process to happen there, and it's not for us to seek to influence that. 'I just caution Members on that issue.'
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Arrested pro-Palestine campaigner says 'we are not the criminals'
Two female campaigners have said they feel as if they are "being criminalised" after they were arrested during a pro-Palestine protest in Belfast. Sue Pentel, 72, a long-standing campaigner and member of Jews for Palestine Ireland, and Martine McCullough, who is in her 50s, were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage after protesting outside a Barclays bank branch in Castle Place on Saturday. Stickers had been placed on an ATM. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) defended its actions and said that the body-cam footage was looked at and the officer's actions were "lawful and proportionate". Ms Pentel said it was "an actual peaceful protest" and that "we feel we are being criminalised, we're not the criminals." In a statement to BBC Radio Ulster's The Nolan Show, Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said the officers were reacting to an emergency call from a city centre business. Ms Pentel told BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster programme that she turned up late to the protest. "I was there to help Martine, who was standing with the petition, and I was there at 11:10 because I was watching how late I was, so I was 10 minutes late, and by 11:26 I was in a jeep, the back of a jeep," she said. "So I failed to see what that was about in 20 minutes. "And we refute the allegation of criminal damage." Ms Pentel said that on Saturday they were talking to people about not using the ATM at the bank while she held a placard saying "forced starvation is a war crime". "We would not shout, but I was making myself heard so that people come over that want to support us," she said. "We're not going into details but stickers may have been placed and have been placed in the past and nobody has been arrested. "When I left within that 20 minutes the ATM was in good working order because someone was using it so I couldn't see any criminal damage." Both of the women were released later on Saturday, pending a report to the Public Prosecution Service. ACC Henderson said the right to both freedom of speech and assembly are "fundamental human rights". "However, 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." Ms Pentel said it would be "ridiculous" if they were to be charged with criminal damage. "When people are being bombed and burnt alive... an actual peaceful protest, we feel we are being criminalised, we're not the criminals," Ms Pentel added. "It's always an absolute privilege and we're always proud to stand up to highlight what's happening in Palestine, and to stand in solidarity with the Palestinians. So if they charge us, so be it. "We will say exactly what we're saying now: we have the right to peacefully protest and we will continue to peacefully protest." Also speaking to BBC Good Morning Ulster, Ms McCullough: "I would really like to see the body-cam or the CCTV footage that the chief constable is referring to because I was there from the start until I was arrested, and there is nothing, in my opinion, criminal happened that day." She added: "I believe there is absolutely zero possibility of any charges being brought forward." Police defend arrests of pro-Palestinian protestors Two women arrested during pro-Palestinian protest
