Students describe their experience of force at the hands of the Gardaí during a pro-Palestine protest on Saturday October 4th.
Last Saturday, October 4th, a confrontation occurred between Gardaí and pro-Palestine protesters. The protestors were en route to Dublin Port when they were stalled by Gardaí. Gardaí dispersed pepper spray onto the protesters numerous times, along with using batons on protestors. The protest was aimed at causing economic disruption, bringing awareness to Ireland’s trade links with Israel, and to bring attention to the Global Sumud Flotilla, which was intercepted by Israel in its mission to deliver aid to Gaza amidst the ongoing genocide.
A group of at least a hundred protesters marched towards Dublin Port, beginning to splinter from the National March for Palestine at around 13:00. The group diverted towards Dublin Port rather than continuing on the main route to Leinster House, after marching down O’Connell street. A confrontation then occurred between the protesters and An Garda Síochána at the North Wall entrance to the port whilst the group attempted to gain access. The Gardaí dispersed pepper spray onto the crowd.
A second group of around a hundred to two hundred protesters gathered to make a further attempt to access Dublin Port via East Wall Road at around 15:30. One student described that there was Gardaí in riot gear “already waiting for [them]” at this entrance. Pepper spray was once again dispersed on the crowd.
One student described the situation to the University Observer. “We decided to link arms and attempt to get through them. Once we got to them they immediately hit us with batons and pepper sprayed us profusely.”
Another student described their experience. “At a protest for Palestine and the humanitarians abducted from the Global Sumud Flotilla, we tried to gain access to the port through police lines. When trying to access the port, I was specifically targeted by two Gardaí who sprayed pepper spray at my face at point blank range.”
According to the Gardaí’s policy on pepper spray, the substance “should not be used at a distance of less than one meter unless the nature of the risk is such that this cannot be avoided. ... Use within this range may cause injury to soft tissue due to the discharge pressure of the liquid. The area of most concern is the eyes. If used within this distance, Gardaí must be prepared to justify not only the use of the spray, but also their decision to use it within this range."
The student continued, “After this spraying I fell to the ground screaming, at which point a Garda told me to move, shoved me and hit me with a baton on the back of my leg. At this stage I was luckily rescued by a friend and protesters began to administer first aid. As the protesters tried to care for those injured with myself and others incapacitated and screaming on the ground, they were issued a Section 8 direction to leave the area. Although protesters tried to explain that we were in no position to move with the injuries sustained, they got out their shields and batons and made a wall slowly moving forward, ready to move us all by force. At this stage many of us ran and those who could not were carried and/or guided out.”
The use of ‘Section 8 direction’ here is a reference to Section 8 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994. Failure to comply with a Section 8 order is an offense, and can lead to arrest.
The student concluded, “I didn’t even begin to feel the pain in my leg until [the day after] because of the pepper spray. It was the most excruciating pain of my life and lasted at least 3 hours.”
Another student disclosed to the University Observer that they had been pepper sprayed a total of four times. They said that their vision did not return fully for hours following the protest, despite repeatedly using both water and saline to clean their eyes, and they were left being guided around Dublin city by two individuals holding onto them. The individual remarked that they didn’t feel like they could stop walking, as they were fearful they would be arrested for their participation in the protest. In a comment to the University Observer, they stated that, "It was done at a distance and an amount and a purposefullness, that, aligned with the inability to access proper decontamination materials, that it could lead to severe health impacts. I personally know people with chemical burns." They further stated, "I was prepared for an amount of police brutality when entering that situation. But the absolute bruality of that experience was horrific, and it was very unexpected in Ireland." The individual also expressed that they felt the response of the Gardaí was ideological in nature. "I think it was a choice to use that amount of violence . . . it was a specific anti-protest measure."
One student commented, “The Gardaí, after pepper spraying us, let us attempt to clear the pepper spray out with solution for about 15 minutes, and then started charging at us with riot gear on. This led to them hitting vulnerable protesters, who couldn’t see because of the pepper spray, and ultimately arresting two as well.”
A representative from UCDBDS also shared their experience: “As soon as I was pepper sprayed, I broke away from the crowd with my hands held to my eyes in pain. I was immediately hit with a baton to the legs by a guard, despite clearly being no longer a perceived threat (of which I'd wager, we were never truly a threat).” They further commented, “The increasing use of excessive force against protestors by An Garda Síochána is totally unacceptable, and it was utterly horrendous to hear the screams of pain from my comrades as they were batoned and pepper sprayed. However, it's only emboldened us.”
They continued, “At this point, the monthly IPSC march in the city centre is not enough, and direct action is a necessity to shake our government into action. The port is a huge economic target, which we were able to successfully disrupt for hours on Thursday, and were unfortunately deterred yesterday - but it won't stop us. I'll just bring goggles next time.”
UCDSU President Michael Roche commented to the University Observer, “As president of UCDSU, I would like to condemn the use of incapacitant spray by the Gardaí towards student protesters and in particular UCD Students this weekend. I will be writing to the Gardaí for an explanation as to why they took this action.”
In a statement to the Irish Independent, the Gardaí commented that as “a public gathering moved towards Dublin Port Tunnel . . . a cordon [was] put in place to prevent the protesting blocking the tunnel.”
This is in light of a protest that took place on October 2nd, where around two hundred protestors blocked the Port Tunnel for four hours in support of the Global Sumud Flotilla, which was intercepted by Israel on its mission to deliver aid to Gaza. Dublin Port has become a target of pro-Palestine protestors due to Ireland’s trade links with Israel. Israel’s exports to Ireland were to the figure of €3.26 billion in 2024. €3.02bn of this is attributed to ‘electronic integrated circuits and microassemblies,’ goods which are mostly used in the areas of technology and pharmaceutical manufacturing. Protestors have chosen to target Dublin Port as a form of economic disruption, according to one student activist.
Two protesters were arrested at the scene. A third protestor was arrested at around 21:00 that night outside the Criminal Courts of Justice whilst awaiting the release of the two individuals who had been arrested earlier that day. The two earlier arrestees have since been released, whilst the third individual faces court today. The individual is a current UCD student.
An Garda Síochána Press Office replied to request for comment from the University Observer, stating:
"An Garda Síochána conducted two separate interventions in the course of these public gatherings in response to co-ordinated and concerted efforts to physically breach the Garda cordon, while on occasion also being subject to a number of missiles thrown towards Garda members. During the second intervention, members of the Garda National Public Order Unit, dressed in ’soft cap’ uniform, supported by frontline uniformed Gardaí, once again intervened to prevent a breach of the Garda cordon which included the use of incapacitant spray and baton. As previously highlighted, two individuals were arrested in the East Wall area for public order offences. An Garda Síochána has no further comment at this time on operational matters related to this public disorder incident. Any person who believes that they were treated inappropriately by a member of An Garda Síochána is invited to make a complaint regarding their interaction to the office of the independent police Ombudsman, Fiosrú."
UCD has been contacted for comment.
This article was updated at 9:00 on Tuesday 7th of October to include a comment from the Garda Press Office.