PSNI arrest leading republican at press conference

Posted by Jim on April 14, 2018

Saoradh has vowed to resist the criminalisation of republicans
following a heavy-handed police arrest operation at offices shared by
the small political party on Monday.

A number of Saoradh members were arrested at the press conference at
Junior McDaid House on Chamberlain Street in the Bogside, which they
had called to condemn PSNI operations against them, including previous
arrests at the office.

To date, ten Saoradh members have been arrested and charged in
connection with the Easter Commemoration parade in Derry, which
featured a colour party in traditional military-style dress, with
masks.

Trouble broke out during parade on April 2, and petrol bombs were
hurled at police vehicles.

In his statement, spokesperson Joe Barr noted that Saoradh did not
organise the commemoration. He said that the men arrested at Junior
McDaid House on April 4 had been “charged with no evidence presented”
and now “face restrictive and draconian conditions placed on them by
the Crown Forces.

He said there had been a “provocative” approach taken by the PSNI ahead
of and during the march in Creggan. He also said that, even though the
previous year’s event had been officially notified, well marshalled and
had passed off without any incident, the Crown Forces “chose to arrest
17 Republicans for attending what was a peaceful Easter Commemoration”.

Mr Barr said questions needed to be asked about the actions of the PSNI
on the days leading up to the march and on the day itself. He noted
that a local parish priest in Creggan had been warned by the PSNI ahead
of the event that ‘if the parade wasn’t properly notified that the
Crown Forces would prevent the parade and arrest those taking part’.

Mr Barr said that this “provocative” warning coupled with a PSNI attack
two days earlier at the Republican Sinn Fein Easter commemoration in
Lurgan which also resulted in arrests “only heightened tensions on the
day in Creggan”.

He said: “The fact remains that the Crown Forces chose to ignore
neutral reasonable voices which suggested they implement a sensitive
and logical approach on the day, instead adopting a heavy and
aggressive presence which increased heightened tensions.”

However, the PSNI were clearly not listening, and Saoradh’s press
conference was only identified as an arrest opportunity. Prominent
anti-Stormont republican Thomas Ashe Mellon and another activist were
seized leaving the building and were subsequently dragged before a
court, accused of breaching previous draconian bail conditions barring
them from the office.

“Once the press conference was finished, British stormtroopers swamped
the surrounding area harassing Republicans and eventually lifting two
of those who took part in the press conference and another well
respected Republican,” Saoradh said.

They added: “Being a Republican is not a crime. Remembering Ireland’s
patriot dead is not a crime. Irish Republicans will not be
criminalised. The time is now, stand and be counted!”

In court, the PSNI described the Easter commemoration as an “unlawful
parade” and said that Junior McDaid House was “a republican base for
republican activists.”

Both men refused to recognise the court and remained seated when the
charge was read to them.

However, District Judge Barney McElholm said bail conditions had to be
“just and appropriate”, and said courts had to be aware of certain
rights like freedom of speech and assembly. He re-released Mr Mellon on
bail with his bail conditions reduced, to applause from supporters.