Vol. 542 No. 4
177 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will order an immediate investigation into the reason a number of gardaí baton charged a group of protesters outside the Burlington Hotel, Dublin 4 on 10 October 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24709/01]
178 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will order the Garda to return immediately the video camera and film that were confiscated from a person (details supplied) near the Burlington Hotel on 10 October 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24710/01]
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the second annual public private partnership-private finance initiative global summit took place at the Burlington Hotel between 10 and 12 October 2001. The summit attracted a number of protesters. In this regard, I am informed that during the course of the evening a number of protesters attempted to force their way into the hotel where the conference was being held.
I am further informed that gardaí on duty at the hotel were subjected to both verbal and physical abuse which included the throwing of eggs, flour, paint, cans of beans and placards. A supermarket trolley was repeatedly pushed into gardaí while they attempted to prevent the protesters from entering the hotel. Garda reinforcements arrived and succeeded in moving the protesters away from the entrance to the hotel.
I understand that the protesters were asked on a number of occasions to desist and leave the area peacefully. These requests were ignored and the protesters again made their way to the front of the hotel where they engaged in a sit down protest. A garda was struck on the head by one of the protesters with a flagpole and received a cut over his eye. The gardaí, fearing an escalation of unruly behaviour and concerned for the safety of people inside the hotel, began to forcibly remove people from the front entrance of the hotel and were forced to draw their batons because of continuous resistance by the protesters. I am informed by the Garda authorities that this was an operational decision taken in the light of the prevailing circumstances at the time. In the circumstances I am not aware of any grounds which would warrant my ordering a further investigation into this matter.
A total of 14 protesters were arrested for public order offences during the incident, one of whom was in possession of a video camera. This video camera is being retained by the Garda for evidential purposes, and I am assured that it will be returned to its owner when investigations have been concluded.
