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VIDEO - Free Speech attacked EU Justice ministers meeting DUBLIN

FREE SPEECH | 23.01.2004 01:53

Free speech attacked on Dame St.

4pm Dame St. Outside Dublin Castle. Pre EU justice ministers meeting.
While filming on the footpath 1 of 3 Garda inspectors approached the journalist put his hand over the lens turned off his camera and manhandled him down Dame St. He joined an RTE crew, where he was approached by another Garda who informed me he was "not allowed to film here."
The Inspector then pushed him off the street (that’s the bit on RTE), there another garda, pushed and manhandled him the remaining way down dame St.
At no time did he resist or Ignore the requests of the Garda.
If he was breaking the law they would have arrested him, his equipment was damaged deliberately
On The corner of Georges St. the Garda attacked the journalist again, causing only surface damage to his camera in an attempt to destroy evidence of the attack.

The purpose of the incident is unclear, the GARDA only created a story for the journalist where was none. If they were trying to make a point, they did. But not the one they thought.

The journalist was told he was being removed under SECTION 8

There was no blood and no batons drawn but important questions have to be asked, why were 3 senior GARDA behaving in this fashion toward a peaceful journalist who has never broken the law. If the Journalist did that to the Garda he would have been charged with Assault no question.

This is no the first time journalist have been prevented from filming demonstrations :-
Car Free Day 2001 2 journalists arrested
Burlington Hotel 1 journalist arrested
May 6th journalists arrested and hospitalized you get the picture

Freedom of the press is essential to democracy
Freedom of speech, just watch what you say!


As a result the journalist missed the play L, please post pictures etc..

The gaps in the footage are from it being turned off and tampered with.

FREE SPEECH

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