ICCL queries treatment of Irish held at Genoa

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties has asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, to call in the Italian ambassador to explain his government's treatment of Irish people arrested during the G8 summit in Genoa last month.

Mr Donncha O'Connell, director of the ICCL, made his call after meeting two Irishmen who were detained for over 30 hours by Italian police in July. He also said the council would bring the matter to the attention of the International Federation of Human Rights in Paris. Mr Mark O'Byrne (24) and his brother, Patrick (27) were arrested after taking part in an anti-racist sit-down protest against EU asylum policies at the G8 summit in July.

They were held at the Casa Reclusione San Michelle in Alessandria with other protesters for almost two days and badly beaten before being released without charge.

Speaking to The Irish Times after their return from Italy the two showed severe bruising around their shoulders, backs, arms and skulls which they said was inflicted on them by Italian police and prison guards. From Rathfarnham in Dublin, Mark is employed as a recruitment consultant, while Patrick works as a theatre attendant in the Coombe Hospital.

Another Irishman, Mr Joe Moffat (30), from Drimnagh in Dublin, was held for almost two weeks before being released without charge at the beginning of this month.

Since coming home the O'Byrnes have sought a meeting with the Department of Foreign Affairs. They have also sought either condemnation of the Italian authorities' actions or an expression of concern.

"The silence has been deafening from our Government," said Mark at the weekend. "This is in stark contrast to other EU governments including the British, French, German, Swiss, Austrian and Dutch which have all publicly expressed concern regarding the treatment of their citizens and have publicly requested explanations from Mr Berlusconi's government."

A spokesman for the Department said there were no plans to seek a meeting with the Italian ambassador to discuss the treatment of Irish protesters in Genoa.

Mr O'Connell described the Department's stance as "simply inexcusable". He said the authenticity of the "very serious set of allegations" was beyond doubt.

"At the very least the Minister should meet with the O'Byrne brothers, and it strikes me as strange that he has not called in the Italian ambassador to relay concerns over the brutal treatment of Irish citizens at the hands of the Italian police."

A spokesman for the Department said a channel had been established by which citizens could make complaints which the Department would relay to the Italian authorities. He also said the Irish Embassy in Rome was monitoring the situation.