Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
PSNI fine protesters
Police urged to respect right to gather peacefully
POLICE imposed fines on protesters at Northern Ireland Black Lives Matter rallies yesterday – recording them as offences against new Covid-19 regulations.
Hundreds of people travelled to Belfast and Derry to show peaceful solidarity with similar gatherings across
the world. And in Belfast, PSNI officers warned them they could face fines if they joined the rally in Custom House Square where a social distancing grid had been marked out on the ground.
Assistant Chief Constable Alan
Todd confirmed a “significant number of Community Resolution Notices” were processed in Belfast and Derry.
Solicitor Ciaran Moynagh said: “Police were stopping people outside Custom House Square, where social distancing was in place, to tell them they could be fined if they went any further.
“From what we witnessed it meant police were basically corralling the public in groups making it difficult to social distance. Clients reported to us the police explained to them if they proceeded to the rally, they would be fined and could be prosecuted. We will be challenging the fines through court.
“If we are to compare today’s rally with other gatherings we’ve seen in the last few weeks, this was more like the queues at Ikea, than the unmarshalled masses in Crawfordsburn. The world has changed, yet we believe people retain the right to demonstrate against inequality and racism.
“These are serious issues which impact on human health also. Today was an example of how demonstrations can be held safely. The new regulations enabled police to fine people aged 18 and over
£60 for the first offence, and this would be decreased to £30 if paid within 14 days.
However, within a matter of hours more than 200 people had donated almost £4,500 to a funding page to cover the cost of the fines.
Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty’s Northern Ireland Programme Director, said: “Reports of fines being imposed on peaceful Black Lives Matter demonstrators in Belfast are deeply worrying.
“People have taken to our city’s largest public squares to express their rage at the murder of George Floyd, and take a stand against the racism which BAME people experience in the US and closer to home. Their voices must not be silenced.
“The PSNI must respect the rights of those peacefully protesting and ensure that the voices of those demanding action on tackling racial injustice are allowed to be heard.”
ACC Alan Todd reiterated that any gathering of more than six people remains against coronavirus regulations, as is travelling for a protest. And he added if advice not to assemble is ignored, officers could move to enforcement.