Protest at Irish embassy on 11th Feb

  • Further arrests of Irish anti-water charges activists
  • Protest at the Irish embassy in London tomorrow (11-2-15) from 4pm, 17 Grosvenor Place, London SW1X 7HR
  • No to political policing

Yesterday four anti-water charges activists were arrested in connection with a community protest against an Irish government minister in Dublin last November. Three of those detained were public representatives from the Anti-Austerity Alliance, including TD (MP) Paul Murphy.

Today a further four people, including a 16 year old, were arrested in a dawn raid. Reports in the Irish media say a possible 40 people could be arrested in connection with the protest.

Commenting on the arrests, Paul Murphy said: “Are the Gardaí (Irish police) planning to make an example of up to 40 people to send a political message to the rest of the country that it’s not okay to protest? This is political policing.”

The Socialist Party of England and Wales and supporters of the Irish anti-water charges movement have called a protest at the Irish Embassy in London tomorrow. We will be handing in a letter of protest to show our disgust at this blatant attack on the democratic right to protest in Ireland. The Irish government is being put on notice that further persecution of political activists will be met with a wave of protest internationally.

Background to the Irish anti-water charges movement:
  • 200,000 people marched in every town and city in the Republic on 1st November
  • Deadline for registration pushed back from December 2014 to February
  • As of February 2nd, 1 million people have returned forms (although not all are customers), leaving 835,000 households remaining.
  • Bills will start to arrive in April.

For further info contact:

Neil Cafferky on 077689 50957 [email protected]