Dublin Grassroots Network
Free the Mayday Prisoners!

On Wednesday morning, Justice Coughlan denied bail to 12 of the people arrested on May 1st near the Phoenix Park because of the "seriousness of the charges". Yet on the same morning, he bailed people accused of cocaine dealing, domestic violence, and one person with a previous conviction for assault on a Garda. There were 30 people arrested over the Mayday weekend in Killarney at a motor rally for public order offences and none of these have been remanded in custody. The Mayday 12 remanded in custody will be back in court on May 12th (ironically the anniversary of James Connolly's execution). Whatever happened to "innocent until proven guilty"? This is a disgrace. Untried people are refused bail while judges can do what they like without having to face the consequences. The thing is if you break the law in this country you do not necessarily face the consequences. It depends on whether or not you challenge the establishment. Will any of the Gardai be prosecuted for their action on May Day? A number of years ago there was a referendum about the right to refusal of Bail. Politicians at the time assured the public that this new law was required for the most serious of offences and that it would only be used in very special circumstances and only for when very serious crime has been committed. This is clearly not the case here. This is another example of the State using any law it can to enforce its will.The imprisonment of 12 people for minor public order offences is an example of the continuing harassment of those that decided to take to the streets to protest against the EU super-state and its policies of immigration control and war. In the run up to Mayday, activists had their homes raided, in one case with a false warrant, and personal possessions (including passports and phones) seized. One person was strip searched in Pearse St Garda station. Others were harassed and questioned while handing out leaflets or putting up posters. These 12 people must be released IMMEDIATELY. There are no grounds whatsoever for their imprisonment even the Gardai present in the court had no objections to their being released on bail. Was the judge given an order from a higher power to keep people in prison to silence dissent? If you can help in any way at all information, donations, visits, then please contact the Grassroots Network Legal Support Team on 086 069 1402. Leave a message if you cannot get through and someone from the legal team will get back to you as soon as possible.Dublin Grassroots Network  grassrootsdublin@yahoo.com

looking on IMC ireland, it looks like the 12 have been given bail after all. bail was set between 100 to 500 euros.