Workers Solidarity Movement

Police accountability will only occur when our demands become loud enough to be unavoidable. Cutbacks that will cause the deaths or ordinary people will only be stopped by making our resistance to them loud, and effective.

The meeting point for this demo is 1pm at the top of Grafton Street.

Whilst this demos has been called in solidarity with the popular up rising in Greece, in the context of cops killing an 15 year old boy, by shooting him at point blank range in the chest, it should be remembered that many families in Ireland have had to deal with deaths of their children is less than clear circumstances

It should also be obvious that many deaths of ordinary folks will result directly from the service cutbacks proposed by our government. These deaths clearly are a capitalist attack on ordinary people, as global capitalist politicians across the globe seek to prop up an political/economic/financial system which has injustice and inequality as one of its core principles and of which we bear the social costs of their greed and willfull destruction

We will not forget this, nor will we forget that the police forces of the state have, as a primary concern, the continuation of the status quo, at all costs. One need only look to Rossport, or the disgusting treatment at the hands of the Guards, of the families looking clear and honest answers and justice for the death of their loved ones and that in many circumstances, at the very least deserve full and independant public inquiries. \these inquries have yet to happen.

There is a direct connection between the abuse of power by the police and the abuse of power of political and capitalist elites. Both abuses will only be stopped when enough of us name them for what they are, and begin to take actions, not just to resist, but to create something different.

This is a list of deaths in Guards custody since 1997 to march 2006

Derek Lehane, aged 19, was taken by ambulance to hospital from Midleton Garda station, Cork in January 1997.

He was pronounced dead in hospital the same day. An inquest gave a verdict of accidental death arising from the
ingestion of a controlled drug.

In December 1997, Norman McGrath, aged 48, from Ballyfermot collapsed in Pearse St Garda station and was
pronounced dead at hospital. A post mortem found he had had a heart attack.

In January 1998, David O'Connor, aged 34, died at Wexford Garda Station.

Peter Williams, aged 33, from Thurles, collapsed in Kilmainham Garda Station in Dublin on 7 September 1998 and
died in hospital. The inquest held that his was death by misadventure arising from the ingestion of prescribed drugs.

On 18 September 1998, Francis Brooks, aged 23, of Rathfarnham, was found dead in Tallaght Garda Station.

On 26 May 1999, Martin Hickey was found dead from strangulation at Trim Station.

On 22 August 1999, a 52 year old man died in Rathmines Garda Station. The Inquest recorded a verdict of death
by misadventure, due to vomit inhalation as a result of acute alcohol intake.

On May 10 2000, Derek Cooper from Southill, Limerick was found hanging in a cell in Roxboro Garda station. he
had been arrested inder the public order act.

In October 2000, Walter Kells, aged 26, was found collapsed in Drogheda Garda station and later pronounced dead. He had been arrested for an alleged breach of
the peace.
On 4 June 2001, an unnamed man was found dead in Store Street Garda station.

On 13 September 2001, Thomas Mongan, from Westside, Galway, died in hospital shortly after having been
arrested.

On 3 May 2001, Patrick Hayes hung himself in a cell at Dungarvan Garda station, Waterford. He had been
arrested under Section 17 of the Domestic Violence Act 1996 following an alleged incident involving his former partner.

In December 2002, 19-year-old Paul Magee died in hospital after being found unconscious in Kilmainham Garda
Station. A postmortem concluded his death was consistent with cocaine-related collapse

On 12 September 2002, Brian Rossiter was found unconscious in Clonmel Garda station, and died later in
hospital.

On 17 June 2003, an unnamed man died in custody in Tallaght Garda station.

On 21 December 2003, John Delaney died in Kilkenny Garda station.

On 3 January 2004, William Haugh, aged 48, from Donaghmede, Dublin died in Clontarf Garda station.

On 13 January 2004, Peter Skelly, aged 25, died in Youghal Garda station.

Also in January 2004, Thomas Campion, aged 23, died in Store Street Garda station.

On 2 June 2005, Terence Wheelock was arrested and brought to Store Street Garda station, and later died in
hospital.
(Sources: The Garda Siochana Annual Reports and media reports)

Against Police Brutality
Against Capitalist inequality
For a society of direct democracy, justice ands equality