Councillor Maurice Dockrell

Mr Dockrell, who is qualified as a solicitor and a barrister, is a Fine Gael councillor for the Blackrock ward, where the Iranian embassy in Ireland is based.

An accreditation ceremony for the new Iranian ambassador to Ireland was due to take place today but has been postponed in response to the unrest in his home country.

A motion proposed by Mr Dockrell and unanimously adopted by Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council yesterday condemns Iran’s “use of violence against peaceful protestors, including the killing and mistreatment of unarmed civilians”.

It calls on the Irish government to “summon the Iranian ambassador to make clear that Ireland will not tolerate the killing and/or mistreatment of unarmed civilian protestors, to seek a full explanation of the regime’s actions, and, if such conduct continues, to consider the expulsion of the ambassador”.

In a statement last night, Mr Dockrell said: “I want to sincerely thank my colleagues across the council chamber for their support this evening.

“The unanimous passing of this motion sends a clear and important message that this council stands firmly on the side of human rights and human dignity.

“As a councillor for the Blackrock ward, which includes the location of the Iranian embassy, I feel a particular responsibility to speak out clearly and unequivocally.

“I condemn the continued use of brutal force by the Iranian government against its own people, and especially the systematic repression and abuse of young women whose only ‘crime’ is demanding basic freedoms.

“There can be no moral ambiguity when unarmed civilians are being beaten, imprisoned, and killed for peaceful protest.

“I shudder to think of the fate of the more than 11,000 protestors who have reportedly been arrested, given the well-documented brutality of the Iranian legal system.”

He added: “Ireland has a proud tradition of standing up for human rights internationally, and I believe the government must now match words with concrete diplomatic action.”