Protest Law

Ireland's human rights watchdog is to make submissions to the Supreme Court in a case concerning whether "necessity" is a valid defence to prosecution for direct action protests. The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission has been granted leave to appear as amicus curiae in the case of DPP v Dow

Legal observers have identified "emerging issues" in the policing of protest in Ireland in a first-of-its kind report. The Irish Network of Legal Observers (INLO), co-convened by the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) and the Irish Centre for Human Rights at the University of Galway, today pub

The UK's proscription of direct action protest group Palestine Action under anti-terrorism legislation was unlawful, the High Court in London has ruled. In a major blow to the government, three judges today found that the "nature and scale" of the group's activities had "not yet reached the level, s

The trial of three activists charged with trespassing at Shannon Airport has been adjourned pending the outcome of a Supreme Court appeal in a separate case. Áine Ní Thréinir, Aindriú de Buitléir and Eimear Walshe were charged with offences under section 11 of the

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) has launched a new survey to gather information from people who have been arrested at peaceful protests in Ireland. This new initiative is part of the organisation’s ongoing work to monitor the right to peaceful protest in Ireland and evolutions in

A judicial review of the UK government's decision to proscribe Palestine Action will go ahead following a court ruling. The Court of Appeal in London on Friday dismissed an attempt by lawyers from the Home Office to prevent the case from being heard, upholding a previous ruling of the High Court.

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) has accused An Garda Síochána of a "wholly disproportionate use of force" at a Palestine protest in Dublin on Saturday. The NGO alleges that gardaí adopted a "heavy-handed policing approach" to a group of protesters who marched to blo

Amnesty International has accused the PSNI of breaching human rights law after a woman was arrested for allegedly wearing a T-shirt showing support for banned group Palestine Action. The 74-year-old woman was arrested in Belfast on Saturday, while others received cautions for wearing T-shirts with t

UK government plans to ban Palestine Action under terrorism legislation are "excessive and disproportionate" and arguably unlawful, human rights organisations have warned. The UK's home secretary, Yvette Cooper, yesterday confirmed in a written statement to MPs that she intends to proscribe the prot

Plans to give gardaí new powers to order protesters to remove face coverings risk creating a "chilling effect" on freedom of expression, campaigners have warned. Justice minister Jim O'Callaghan yesterday said new powers are necessary as "some protesters are covering their faces in an obvious

Nearly one in five climate and environmental protests in the UK involve arrests, far above the international average, according to a new report. Researchers at the University of Bristol say 17.2 per cent of UK protests end in arrests compared to an international average of 6.3 per cent.