éirígí Activist Released
18/05/10
The éirígí activist held on remand in the aftermath of Saturday’s Garda attack on the Anglo Irish Bank demonstration was released yesterday [Monday].
John McCusker was among the seven peaceful protestors who were assaulted and arrested by Gardaí during the éirígí-organised demonstration.
McCusker, who is the chair of one éirígí’s Belfast ciorcal [local branch], was denied bail on Saturday on the spurious grounds that Gardaí could not establish his identity. Despite his passport being in the possession of Gardaí from Saturday evening, it took until Monday afternoon for him to be released.
The Belfast man spent the weekend on 24-hour lock up in Cloverhill Prison, Dublin without any clothes after he refused to wear a prison uniform and prison authorities refused to allow him to remain in his own clothes.
éirígí chairperson Brian Leeson, who met McCusker at the gates of Cloverhill upon his release, said: “Saturday’s arrests were the first made in relation to anti-NAMA peaceful protests. Unless the Garda changes its attitude, there are going to be many more because éirígí activists and supporters will not be intimidated by any amount of thuggish behaviour and bully boy tactics.
“John is to be commended for how he has handled himself since Saturday and for the stance he took in refusing to wear a prison uniform.
“All seven activists will be pleading not guilty to the charges that have been leveled against them and éirígí will be giving them complete support in fighting this battle. The right to peaceful protest must be upheld.”
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