Saoirse sit on City Hall
Three members of Sinn Fein Youth were arrested following a highly
successful protest at Belfast City Hall, this Monday 3 November.
The protest calling for the release of political prisoners was
organised in conjunction with Saoirse, the political prisoners
campaign group.
At 11.30am the three youths, dressed as painters, and equipped
with ladders and banners, walked into the grounds of City Hall.
They scaled the front of the building, occupying the domed
porte-cochere, which sits above the entrance to the historic
building.
Within minutes a large crowd of onlookers stood at the gates to
City Hall. By 12.30 the press outnumbered the public.
Despite continued attempts by the RUC to convince the protestors
to come down from the roof, the Sinn Fein Youth activists
remained until they were satisfied that the protest had made its
point, and decended voluntarily.
On the ground the three youths were arrested and taken to Antrim
Road RUC barracks, where they were charged with public order
offences, and bailed to appear in court on 1 December.
Saoirse spokeperson Martin Meehan said, ``today's protest was a
great success, it has raised the issue of political prisoners
once again and made it clear that their release is an essential
part of the peace process.''
In a sinister development one of the protestors, Eoin O'Broin,
after having been discharged, was approached by two unidentified
males while still on the grounds of the RUC barracks, and asked
to attend a meeting in private. When asked to identify
themselves, the men refused, but indicated they were `police'
with a special interest in O'Broin.
``They mentioned a series of details about my work and political
life, and said that they were taking a keen interest in my recent
activities,'' O Broin said. ``When I asked them what they wanted
they just said that they wanted a ``chat'' and that if I ever
needed to talk or get out of trouble then I knew where they were.
When I asked for their names and numbers, I was refused''.
Commenting on the incident Martin Meehan said, ``the RUC have once
again shown their true colours in trying to harass and bribe our
young people. This was obviously an attempt to recruit the man in
question to become an informer, and thankfully one that failed.
Is this not contrary to the spirit of the peace process which we
are all working so hard to build?''
Next week: Full report of Sinn Féin Youth Winter School and
Conference
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