Arrests over ‘protests’

How strange. This week the Irish Times was sure – as noted, due to anonymous Garda sources – that the very idea that ‘protestors’ outside politicians homes could be dealt with in any way was impossible:

many gardaí believe their hands are tied. They say there is no specific legislation banning protests outside the homes of politicians and others. Added to that, they say, the Garda is obliged to uphold people’s right to protest, once that protest remains peaceful, even if it is outside a family dwelling.

And:

You look at that group the other night and it’s obvious they were doing it just to show nobody could stop them — for the sake of it,” said one member of the force. Other sources said, though the appearance of masked men was seen as sinister by most people in society, there was very little they could do unless there was a breach of the peace. One garda said “wearing a balaclava or scarves or hoods to hide your face isn’t illegal”.

Nothing to see there. Move along. Nothing to worry about. And what’s sinister about masked men congregating outside a private home? The very thought. 

Curious then that yesterday brings the news that:

Three men arrested as part of an investigation into demonstrations at the Taoiseach’s home have been released without charge.

But wait:

Gardaí say a file will be prepared for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Two men aged in their 40s and another in his 30s were arrested this morning in Dublin and taken to separate garda stations under section four of the Criminal Justice Act.

Taoiseach Simon Harris is the most senior elected official who has been targeted by anti-migrant protesters.

Demonstrators have turned up twice outside his home in Co Wicklow in the past seven weeks.

On Thursday 2 May a group of around a dozen masked individuals held banners with anti-immigrant slogans outside his house as his wife was preparing their two young children for bed.

Images were subsequently circulated on social media.

Last Friday, another small masked anti-immigrant group waving Irish flags and demanding border closures arrived at the Taoiseach’s home and were there a short time before gardaí directed them to leave the area.

And suddenly we learn that:

Gardaí in Wicklow have been investigating the incidents and arrested the three men for alleged harassment.

The man in his 30s was questioned about last Friday’s incident, the two others were detained in connection with the incident outside the Taoiseach’s home in May.

The suspects are well known to gardaí for their presence at several anti-migrant protests across the country, including at Ballyogan in south Dublin.

Because it seems that:

Garda Headquarters said the three men were arrested for alleged offences contrary to Non-Fatal Offences against the Person Act as part of ongoing investigations into the alleged harassment of an elected official.

Section 10 of the legislation makes it an offence to harass someone by “intentionally or recklessly seriously interfere with the other’s peace and privacy or cause alarm, distress or harm to the other.”

The offence is punishable by a €1,500 fine or up to 12 months in prison at District Court level, but up to seven years in prison for more serious offences prosecuted in the Circuit Court.

Now it’s not the first time this has happened. RTÉ notes that both two ministers – Roderic O’Gorman and Helen McEntee, and a TD, Paul Murphy – have experienced same (I’m pretty sure others have faced similar, at least one or two SF TDs too). So perhaps telling that now it’s the Taoiseach that has faced this that Garda investigations are in train. Perhaps not.