A member of the Globalise Resistance campaign which took part in yesterday’s "Reclaim the Streets" demonstration in Dublin has alleged that "a sinister element" in the Garda is deliberately targeting peaceful protests.
Twenty-four people were arrested during the yesterday’s rally following clashes between gardaí and protesters.
"We were protesting against the rise of car culture and the need for more public transport and pedestrian areas," said Mr Joe Carolan. "The whole event had a peaceful carnival atmosphere until it was set upon by the Gardai," he said.
"There are sinister elements in the Gardai who want to use the public order act to criminalise peaceful protestors," continued Mr Carolan.
"We want all charges dropped and a full inquiry into the events of last night - where members of the Gardai were filmed taking off their badges before brutally beating innocent protestors."
Mr Carolan claimed that in the past year the group has been baton charged at the PPP summit in Dublin, arrested for demonstrating against the war in Afghanistan at the British Embassy, and beaten on the Critical Mass car-free day protest last year.
He alleged that elements are at work within the EU and Ireland to break large groups likes Global Resistance.