ICCL ‘very concerned’ after gardaí post photo of men detained on ground

By Cillian Sherlock, Press Association

A human rights group is “very concerned” about an image published by An Garda Síochána showing four men detained while lying on the ground outside.

The picture, shared to a regional garda Facebook page, accompanied a post in which they said the men had been apprehended and arrested at night after fleeing from a vehicle on foot.

The image shows at least five gardaí standing in the vicinity of the men who were lying on gravelly outdoor ground as headlights from nearby garda cars shine in their direction.

At least two of the men appear not to be wearing shoes.

The social media post was later deleted, but the image had already been republished on local and national news outlets.

The Irish Council of Civil Liberties (ICCL) said the publication of “images of people arrested in potentially humiliating circumstances raises questions”.

The taking and publication of images of people arrested in potentially humiliating circumstances raises questions

Olga Cronin, Human Rights and Surveillance Senior Policy Officer, ICCL, said: “Two of the men appear to be without shoes, while three of the four men appear to be struggling or uncomfortable in how they are positioned.

“The image creates a clear visual contrast between the power of the gardaí and the powerlessness of the arrested men who are on the ground and apparently restrained.

“While the image may have been intended to document an arrest, it could be viewed as presenting the men in a humiliating or degrading manner.”

Ms Cronin added: “ICCL understands and acknowledges that An Garda Síochána has a duty to investigate crime and, when appropriate, apprehend and arrest people whom they reasonably suspect of having committed a crime.

“There could also be a public interest in notifying the public about such an arrest.

“Such arrests could obviously result in arrestees being handcuffed and lying on the ground momentarily.

“But the taking and publication of images of people arrested in potentially humiliating circumstances raises questions, not least when there is no appeal to the public accompanying the image for help in identifying a suspect or seeking a witness as was seemingly the case here.

“This, rather, appears to be a show of force.”

The ICCL said it was asking why the image was taken, why it was published, and how An Garda Síochána satisfied it was necessary.

It has also asked why some of the men have no shoes on, what social media protocols An Garda Síochána follows, and why it was deleted.

Asked for comment on the publication and deletion of the post, An Garda Síochána said: “On review within a short period, this post was removed for operational reasons.

“An Garda Síochána does not comment on the specifics of such operational decisions.”