Police get tough on Fuascailt
After more than three years of peaceful monthly Fuascailt
demonstrations outside Downing Street, the Metropolitan Police
decided on Sunday 3 May that it was time to get heavy-handed with
protesters. Fuascailt members were harassed, intimidated and
threatened with arrest as they stood calling for the release of
Irish political prisoners.
The police demanded that protesters remove their banners from the
railings and to stop using a megaphone. When they refused -
hardly surprisingly given that there has never been any objection
to their use in the past - police officers demanded names and
threatened people with arrest. When asked why this
behaviour was necessary, they said they were only obeying orders.
However, the directive issued to them by the Events Department at
Metropolitan Police HQ, seen by members of Fuascailt, said that
use of the megaphone and banners was to be `discouraged' rather
than refused outright as the police on duty were suggesting. The
directive also said very explicitly that `there is no reason to
expect any trouble from this group.'
Members of the group say they will be interested to see the
reaction of the police at the June picket when protesters turn
up, megaphone and banners in hand as usual.
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