Garda use 'excessive force' to deport asylum-seekers

Anti-deportation activists have complained of "excessive Garda force" during the deportation of 50 Nigerians at the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) headquarters on 18 October.

Members of Residents Against Racism (RAR) and other supporters and friends of the Nigerian asylum-seekers were punched and knocked to the ground when they tried to prevent the deportees being put into vans for removal to Dublin Airport.

In one case, a Nigerian asylum-seeker, Meriam Shaka, was chased across Burgh Quay and tackled to the ground. Protester Gráinne Griffin told Village that Shaka "came running out of the GNIB, with no shoes on, screaming. A man in plain-clothes ran after her, held her down on the street and then dragged her to the pavement."

"When I came over, she had collapsed, her eyelids were flickering. People tried to help her, to give her blankets, but two gardaí prevented people approaching her," Griffin said. "Their numbers were not visible and they refused to give their names or numbers."

"She appeared to have passed out, but they refused to get medical assistance. They lifted her into the back of a Garda van, like an animal. It was appalling."

Shaka was then taken to Pearse Street Garda station, according to the Garda press office, and was served with a deportation order. She is due to be deported in November.

A large number of Nigerians, whose applications for asylum had been refused, had been instructed to report to the GNIB at 2pm on Tuesday. About 25 protestors and friends of the deportees turned up to support them.

When some of the protestors tried to block the rear entrance of the GNIB, gardaí charged them. "They punched and elbowed us and knocked most of us to the ground," said Caoimhe Kerins of RAR.

Two other members of RAR were arrested during these altercations.

A third man, Fergus Haverty-Stacke from Dublin, was arrested at Pearse St Garda Station when he went in to enquire after Meriam Shaka. "I walked in and asked what had happened to Meriam; the garda refused to give me any information and told me to leave the station or be arrested. When I asked again was Meriam alright, the garda leaped over the counter, pushed me outside and arrested me for breach of the peace."

Caoimhe Kerins said that if there had been more protestors there, "we could have prevented the deportations. Several solicitors were on the way with last-minute injunctions. It was a desperate situation."

Rosana Flynn of RAR said there was "a lot of anger around. The Garda response was way over the top."

William Hederman