A meeting with representatives of the Rossiter family, the Wheelock family, the maloney family and the families of Rossport Co. Mayo who ask an audience of more than 200 people why the Garda Síochána are above the law.

Tonight at the Royal Dublin Hotel more than 200 people turned up to support the Wheelock family, the Maloney Family, the Rossiter family, the besieged people of Rossport and to voice their fears and feelings regarding the fact that An Garda Síochana are a law unto themselves and that they act without fear of punishment or condemnation.

The Panel 8.57 Mb The Audience 15.14 Mb

Related Links: Recent UK Doc Featuring Police Brutality Down West | Political Policing Continues | Motion for Wheelock Inquiry Passed by Dublin City Council | Community and Family March on the First Anniversary of Terence Wheelock's Death. | The Wheelock Family move out of Summerhill after continuing Garda intimidation | Campaign of intimidation against family of Terence Wheelock continues | June 2006: Justice For Terence Wheelock Protest at Store Street Garda Station | Fighting for Justice; Fighting for the truth: an interview with the Wheelocks May 2006: Wheelock Family Attacked by Gardai | Another death caused by Garda Hospitality? - The parents of John Moloney demand an independent inquiry

On Tuesday afternoon there was a sit down protest by about 30 inmates in the yard of Limerick Prison. According to rte.ie the protest was against harsh punishments imposed on those caught with drugs by the prison governor, as the deployment of 'Rocky' the sniffer dog has led to the seizure of most drugs coming into Limerick Prison.

Listeners to Tuesday’s Newstalk’s ‘Lunchtime with Eamon Keane’ were treated to the unappetising performance of Eamon and his Mid-West correspondent crowing victoriously about Rocky’s successes and the resulting problems for users experiencing withdrawal symptoms.

For anyone who hasn’t seen Trainspotting, going off heroin cold turkey is not a pretty picture; one Rehab centre lists common symptoms such as tremors, panic, chills, nausea, muscle cramps, insomnia, stomach cramps, diarrhea, vomiting, shaking, chills or profuse sweating, irritability and jitteryness. Given the generally scant facilities for treatment of addicts in Irish prison it’s unlikely that prisoners received much in the way of assistance. It’s a tad disquieting when it’s acceptable to publicly gloat over this kind of experience in other people.

Related Links: Brazil Prison Riot | Belfast Telegraph's Coverage | Brazil Prsion Riot | Irish Prison Reform Trust | More From the WSM On Represstion | Irish Prison Reform Trust

Terence Wheelock was taken into custody on the 2nd of June 2005. The twenty year old man left Store Street station in a coma never to recover from the injuries that he received there and died in September 2005. His family is still waiting for an adequate explanation for what happened on that day in Store Street. The Gardai claim that Terence’s injuries were sustained while attempting suicide but the Wheelock family have disputed this and have launched a high profile campaign for an independent inquiry into Terence Wheelock’s death.

The demand for an inquiry is both reasonable and fair in light of the information that has come into the public domain since June 2005. Many of the details of the events surrounding Terence Wheelock’s death have been well documented on Indymedia, and in The Village. More recently the case has received attention from the Sunday Tribune and a number of other mainstream media outlets. Nonetheless, it is worth reiterating some of the most striking features of the case. For instance the cell where Terence Wheelock fell into a coma was immediately renovated before it could be inspected by the family’s legal team. The clothes Terence was wearing that day, which were later found to be blood spattered, were taken away by the Gardai and left in conditions that undermined the value of the garments as forensic evidence. Custody records in the station were inexplicably amended and numerous other inconsistencies have been noted in the Garda version of events. Moreover, witnesses who were at Store Street and who later appeared at the Coroner’s Court have questioned the Gardai’s account of what took place. Even more significantly the Gardai’s assertion that Terence Wheelock had no marks or bruises on his body when he was in custody has been flatly contradicted by photographic evidence obtained by the family from the Mater hospital which clearly shows extensive bruising and lacerations all over the young man.

The Campaign for Justice for Terence Wheelock is holding a peaceful protest this Saturday the 9th of June to mark the second anniversary of Terence Wheelock’s arrest and his subsequent death and to renew their call for an independent inquiry. The protest will meet at Sean McDermott Street church at 1 pm and then move to Store Street.

Related Links: Motion for Wheelock Inquiry Passed by Dublin City Council | Community and Family March on the First Anniversary of Terence Wheelock's Death. | The Wheelock Family move out of Summerhill after continuing Garda intimidation | Campaign of intimidation against family of Terence Wheelock continues | June 2006: Justice For Terence Wheelock Protest at Store Street Garda Station | Fighting for Justice; Fighting for the truth: an interview with the Wheelocks May 2006: Wheelock Family Attacked by Gardai | Another death caused by Garda Hospitality? - The parents of John Moloney demand an independent inquiry

On Sunday Sinn Fein voted to support the Police Service of Northern Ireland at their extraordinary ard fheis which was attended by approximately 1,000 delegates.

The vote, which was recorded by a show of hands, came after 6 hours of debate and a series of amendments which Sinn Fein claim will “enhance the proposal”. The build-up to the ard fheis saw an unprecedented amount of positive press for Sinn Fein with the media calling today’s event a “historical moment” and suggesting that the party has finally matured beyond it’s revolutionary past. A Sunday Business post poll stated that 56% of people questioned would be more likely to vote for the party if they support the PSNI.

Related Links: Sinn Féin | Wikipedia: PIRA | Police Service Northern Ireland | Fourthwrite Magazine | The Blanket Magazine | Republican Sinn Féin | 32 CSM | IRSP | Eirigi | Patten Report | British Police: Republican Policemen?

Dublin City Council have joined those calling for an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of Terence Wheelock. Terence, who was from Summerhill in Dublin, suffered fatal injuries while in Garda custody in June 2005.

The Gardai have claimed that he hung himself, but this is strongly denied by his family who have pointed out many contradictions in the Garda story. The most glaring one is the report of a serious head injury which most likely came from a major blow Terence received to the head while in Garda custody.

There is an ongoing inquest into Terence's death taking place at the Coroner's court, but this has only a limited remit. With Garda brutality on display in Rossport, any independent inquiry which serves to limit State violence will be a big step forward for everybody - not just the people of inner city Dublin. The Wheelocks and their supporters will be continuing their campaign this weekend, distributing leaflets in Dublin city centre.

Previous Indymedia Coverage: Interview with Esther and Larry Wheelock | Wheelock family move out of Summerhill | First mention of Terence on Indymedia | Original report of Terence's death | 1st Anniversary March | John Maloney’s death in Garda Custody