Latest Autonomous Community Spaces Press Release

national | miscellaneous | press release Tuesday July 15, 2003 18:34 by one of many acs - ACS Press: Cian O'Callaghan 086 286 6631

Members of the collective who opened a community centre in Central Dublin at the weekend say they are undeterred despite being attacked and evicted yesterday.

News reports on the Quarterly Housing Bulletin yesterday revealed that the price of new houses had risen by over 12% in the last year. Junior Minister Noel Ahern admitted, "that successive governments had shied away from tackling the issue of the cost of building land" and said "it must now be confronted."

On the 13th of July at 2:30pm a collective called Autonomous Community Spaces (ACS) reopened a building which had been left derelict for over 11 years at 41 Parnell Sq. West. The situation was explained to a passing policeman who was given a copy of the political statement (1)and left taking no further action.

The Dublin Corporation had requisitioned the building and its title was under dispute. It had been left derelict for 11 years in a climate where few can afford their own house and work long hours to pay for a home they have little time to spend in. Many buildings are left derelict waiting for the highest price so that they can be turned into cramped apartments that can few can afford.

The ACS spent the night cleaning the building, making plans to use it as a community resource centre (and soup kitchen for the homeless). An evening was planned to invite local residents to contribute their ideas for the use of the free space.

At 2:40pm on Monday the 14th three men arrived at the door shouting and threatening physical violence against those inside and outside the building. No I.D. was shown or papers served. They proceeded to smash a hole in the door with a sledgehammer and attack people inside with a crowbar. One occupant sustained serious head wounds and was later hospitalised. In serious fear for their lives, members of the collective inside and outside the building called the police.

The police arrived, unsure of the situation and aided the illegal eviction, arresting 2 members of the collective standing on the pavement. They ignored reports of the assault carried out by the unidentified men claiming to be the previous owners. Both arrestees were later released without charge. The police did not state the law under which they were evicting the occupants or threatening arrest. They ignored the fact that no proof of ownership was given by the 3 men who assaulted the occupants. A member of the collective said, "ACS believe this to be a illegal eviction and we are considering our options".

Statements were given by members of ACS at Store Street Gardai Station later that day, describing the assault and the physical and verbal abuse by the 3 unidentified men. ACS is a peaceful group who wish to see proper use of the cities resources and still see a need for more space for community activities "We cannot rely on the state to do these things for us so we are creating them for ourselves. We are not deterred by these events and encourage other to join us.

Available at www.1978.org/discodisco
For more info contact: Cian O'Callaghan 086 286 6631