Article originally published on ICCL website, 27 April 2020 – accessible here
ICCL wrote to the Garda Commissioner on 27 April 2020 to request information on the policing of the COVID-19 response.
We asked for information on:
The number and location of checkpoints
The presence of armed gardaí at checkpoints
Stop-and-search
Deployment of the Public Order Unit
The use of pepper spray
Interpretation of “essential travel” and “reasonable excuse”
Request for ID or travel papers
Treatment of protest or strike
Opposing bail in pandemic-related cases
Acting on drone footage
ICCL has previously written to the Garda Commissioner to express concern about the practise of hooding during the pandemic.