Almost 400 people from all over the country gathered in Frank McBrearty's nightclub in Raphoe in Co Donegal on Saturday to air their experience of alleged Garda or State corruption, and to discuss setting up a new civil rights movement in Ireland.
The public meeting - chaired by Frank McBrearty jnr, wrongly accused of the murder of local man Richie Barron in 1996 - heard a panel of speakers call for the establishment of a Garda Ombudsman for the State.
Fine Gael MEP Jim Higgins spoke of the McBreartys' courage, while Independent TD Finian McGrath criticised Minister for Justice Michael McDowell's handling of the corruption issue.
About 25 people supporting the "Rossport Five" attended the meeting, including Mayo TD Jerry Cowley, who said the Taoiseach must insist Shell removes this injunction immediately.
Frank Shortt, the nightclub owner, who was the victim of a miscarriage of justice, told the meeting he still suffered Garda harassment and was considering taking his case to Europe.
Derry-based journalist and Socialist Workers' Party (SWP)member Eamon McCann said the Government's bona fides were questionable when it spoke of rights and justice in Northern Ireland.
"There is a seething frustration about justice and it must now become a mainstream issue in Irish society as it did in Northern Ireland," he said.
Sinn Féin vice-president Pat Doherty said society needed a police service that was accountable, open and there to serve the people. He said the problem with the Garda went back 35 years to the start of the Troubles.
Cork Green Party TD Dan Boyle said John O'Donoghue, minister for justice at the time of the McBrearty case, should have resigned and should still resign.
During the five-hour meeting, many people cited their experience of injustice and what they claim is State corruption. The murder of Donegal councillor Eddie Fullerton was raised by his son, Albert. The investigation of a number of road deaths was raised, as were perceived cases of wrongful arrest and prosecution.
Only one garda attended the meeting - Garda Martin Leonard from Letterkenny, who fully supported the call for a Garda Ombudsman. He said he had called for the resignation of the Commissioner, and stressed the majority of gardaí were good people - a point raised by all the speakers on the panel.
Donal Mac Fhearraigh of the SWP invited people to volunteer to take what he described as a new civil rights movement nationwide and hold meetings around the country.