Garda Commissioner Drew Harris has written to the Oireachtas Business Committee on matters relating to the arrest and strip and cavity searching of Mothers Against Genocide protestors on 31 March 2025. In his letter, Commissioner Harris admits that “There are no recording devices in cells when prisoners are being searched”. This contradicts claims by Minister Jim O’Callaghan’s that bodycam footage and recordings showed that People Before Profit-Solidarity statements in the Dáil were false.
People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy said 'A letter dated 16th May from the Garda Commissioner Drew Harris to the Oireachtas Business Committee has contradicted claims by Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan that footage and recordings of the arrests and detention of Mothers Against Genocide protestors showed that People Before Profit-Solidarity statements in the Dáil on strip and cavity searches of the mothers were false.
'Commissioner Harris in his letter to the states “There are no recording devices in cells when prisoners are being searched”, but the Minister, in his comments at the AGSI conference on 15th April claiming our statements had been shown to be false did not disclose this crucial information. On the contrary, the Minister said at the conference that any investigation “will also have access to the recordings examined by the Commissioner”. But the Commissioner has now made it clear there are no such recordings.
'The Minister gave the clear impression that footage had "revealed" that our claims on strip and cavity searches were false. But on the contrary, this letter from the Garda Commissioner vindicates our claims and proves that the Minister misled the public. The Minister should now make a statement acknowledging that no recording devices were in cells when prisoners were being searched and he should apologise for misleading the public in this regard.'
See the statement below from Mothers Against Genocide, released this morning
Statement from Mothers Against Genocide - 23 May 2025
Mothers Against Genocide note that An Garda Síochána have now acknowledged that there is no camera footage of the strip searches conducted on our members during the Mother's Day arrests.
In April 2025, during the AGSI Conference, the Minister for Justice told the press that a review had taken place following the arrests of our members and that "footage" was examined as part of this review. The Minister for Justice and the Garda Commissioner both attempted to discredit our members, citing this "review." Minister O'Callaghan reported that the Gardaí had found the testimony of Mothers Against Genocide to be false.
Many of those arrested have submitted subject access requests to the Gardaí seeking all footage and information held on them. To date, none of this information has been received. Last week, a solicitor acting on behalf of two Mothers Against Genocide members issued letters of claim to the Garda Commissioner, citing wrongful arrest, breaches of civil liberties, and discrimination on the basis of political beliefs.
More members are currently preparing to take similar legal action and to lodge formal complaints.
We expect the Minister for Justice to issue a public apology for spreading misinformation and for interfering with due process by repeating false statements and defending Garda conduct before investigations had even begun.
This is a grave matter of public interest and trust.
We also want to remind the public why we are protesting: over 50,000 Palestinians have been killed in a genocidal assault, and more than 14,000 children now at risk of starvation. The Irish government continues to allow weapons to transit through Irish airspace and still refuses to enact the Occupied Territories Bill.
We will not be intimidated into silence. We will continue to stand up and speak out for the children of Gaza, and for justice.--
Mothers Against Genocide
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