The Five Demands

Un uomo, originario di Tyrone, tenuto in custodia per sospette attività dissidenti si è visto rifiutata la sua richiesta al voto.

Da mercoledì, l’uomo è al momento tenuto sotto sorveglianza e interrogato presso il centro Serious Crime Suite di Antrim. In giornata, aveva fatto richiesta di poter votare scortato dalla polizia fin al suo seggio di Strabane. Secondo l’accusa, l’uomo sarebbe coinvolto in un attacco punitivo in stile paramilitare a Strabane. Inoltre sarebbe stato trovato in possesso di armi da fuoco.
L’azione a cui si fa riferimento è stata rivendicata da un gruppo ritenuto vicino alla Real Ira: “Republican Action Against Drugs”.
Il periodo di detenzione previsto dalla leggi scadrà qualche minuto dopo la chiusura dei seggi, precludendo così la possibilità al sospetto di poter votare.
I suoi legali, vistosi rifiutare la richiesta di voto per procura hanno definito la decisione come irregolare, irrazionale, e irragionevole.
La PSNI, tramite David Dunlop, si è detta contraria alla concessione per il sospettato perchè prevederebbe l’istituzione di “un gruppo di supporto tattico che lo dovrebbe portare a Strabane, permettergli di votare e poi riportarlo indietro”. Ed ancora: “Nella prospettiva del servizio di polizia non è ragionevole aspettarsi che sarà trasportato per 80 miglia per votare e poi riportato.”
Mr Treacy si interroga sul perchè la richiesta di voto non sia stata avanzata prima, l’uomo è in detenzione da mercoledì.
“L’impossibilità di votare è una conseguenza della detenzione, il risultato di fortuite circostanze perchè la detenzione coincide con il giorno del voto.”

A Co Tyrone man being questioned about a suspected Real IRA punishment attack has failed in an emergency legal bid to be allowed to cast his vote.
The suspect, who is being held at Antrim Serious Crime Suite under anti-terrorism laws, wanted police to take him to his polling station in Strabane and then back to the custody centre.
But his application for leave to seek a judicial review was dismissed following an urgent hearing at the High Court in Belfast.
Mr Justice Treacy held that his inability to vote “will not thwart the free expression of the people” in the General Election.
The man was arrested on Wednesday afternoon and taken for questioning about alleged offences of possessing a firearm and a punishment attack on a man in Strabane on 19 April.
The court was told the attack is believed to have been carried out by Republican Action Against Drugs – a cover name for the Real IRA.
With no option open for the man to vote by proxy, his current detention period was said to expire 22 minutes after the polls close.
His lawyers claimed the police refusal breached his entitlement to be part of the democratic process, was unlawful, irrational and unreasonable.
But David Dunlop, for the PSNI, argued against the application by pointing out he was being held under the Terrorism Act.
“A Tactical Support Group would have to be tasked to take him to Strabane, allow him to vote, and take him back to detention,” Mr Dunlop said.
“From the perspective of the police service it is not proportionate to expect he be transported roughly 80 miles, vote, and then returned.”
Ruling on the case, Mr Justice Treacy questioned why the application was not brought earlier in the man’s detention.
The judge stressed: “Police are investigating serious terrorist crime and questioning the applicant.
The detention is, by agreement, accepted as being lawful.
“The inability to vote as a consequence of that detention is a result of fortuitous circumstances if detention coincides with polling day.”
The judge added that the suggestion that police should transport the applicant to Strabane to vote and then back to Antrim Serious Crime Suite to continue his questioning, would impose an unreasonable burden on the police and could lengthen the applicant’s detention and frustrate or disrupt “a serious terrorist investigation”.