Irish TDs Travel to Germany For Pro-Palestinian Activist’s Trial
Irish TDs Travel to Germany For Pro-Palestinian Activist’s Trial
Text: Izzy Copestake
If convicted, Tatlow-Devally, along with activists from the UK, Germany and Spain, known as the ‘Ulm 5’, could face up to five years in prison.
Seven Irish politicians are travelling to Germany to attend the trial of 32-year-old Dubliner Daniel Tatlow-Devally, who is currently in prison and charged with causing €1 million in damage at the Israeli-owned defence factory Elbit Systems.
Social Democrats Senator Patricia Stephenson, People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger, Labour TD Duncan Smith, Fine Gael TD Barry Ward, and Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan will attend the trial. People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett and Sinn Féin TD Mairéad Farrell will also attend the trial, as well as visiting Tatlow-Devally in prison today ahead of the proceedings.
If convicted, Tatlow-Devally, along with activists from the UK, Germany and Spain, known as the ‘Ulm 5’, could face up to five years in prison. Videos posted by the Ulm 5 activists appear to show them spray-painting the site with slogans accusing Germany of facilitating genocide in Gaza. Tatlow-Devally has been charged under Section 129 of the German Criminal Code, relating to membership of a criminal organisation.
Elbit Systems is Israel’s largest defence company and supplies weapons and equipment, including land-based systems and drones, to the IDF.
“There was no threat to anyone at any stage in their protest. They did not conceal their faces and did not run away,” a statement from the Ulm 5 said.
Lawyers for the Ulm 5 have criticised the conditions of the trial, which they say are more commonly associated with terrorism proceedings, as defendants are being handcuffed in a high-security courtroom. Furthermore, families of the group have stated that the activists have been subjected to poor prison conditions, including inadequate healthcare, food shortages and monitored communications. These claims have previously been disputed by German prosecutors.
“They were protesting against a company in Germany producing weapons used by Israel to prosecute what the Irish Government itself has said is a genocidal and illegal campaign against Gaza and the Palestinian people,” Boyd Barrett said.
“This is a prolonged trial that is scheduled to continue until January next year. The Irish Government urgently needs to send observers to protect the rights of an Irish citizen and the basic right to a fair trial,” Boyd Barrett said.
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