Tyrone man beaten and gassed by PSNI in continuing CS gas campaign against nationalists.

Published: 14 April, 2006

Political Action Alert

Tyrone man beaten and gassed by PSNI in continuing CS gas campaign against nationalists

 I.           The Details:

Dominic Darcy, a West Tyrone GAA activist, was beaten by six PSNI men at a checkpoint outside his home early Sunday morning, 9 April.  His eye sockets were broken and his nose broken in three places.  His face was severely burned with CS gas.  Witnesses say the gas was applied while Mr. Darcy was on the ground, in violation of PSNI guidelines.   

Dominic Darcy is 62 years old. 

The Police Ombudsman’s office were refused access to him while he was supposedly being questioned.  Sinn Fein sources and friends say he was kept bleeding in the rain outside the station for 90 minutes.  The Ombudsman’s office is now investigating allegations of PSNI abuse. 

In 1992, Dominic Darcy took on the RUC in a much publicized court case involving illegally authorized search warrants.  Mr Darcy won the case, which was later lost on appeal.

In incidents throughout West Tyrone over last weekend, the PSNI used CS gas to quell arguments or pub disturbances.  At least 12 innocent bystanders are recovering from the side effects of the gassings, which can include streaming eyes, burning, blurred vision, blistering, swelling and skin inflammation. 

Barry McElduff, West Tyrone Sinn Féin MLA, highlighted both incidents with the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and British Secretary of State Peter Hain.  Mr McElduff said that is was almost as if the PSNI were using the nationalist areas of Omagh, Strabane, Derry and Castlederg as a testing ground for the use of the potentially dangerous spray.  

Charlie McHugh, a Sinn Féin councillor in Castlederg, said that CS spray has become the PSNI's “favourite weapon of oppression against West Tyrone nationalists.”

CS Gas Spray canisters have been in use by the PSNI since 2004.  Reported police incidents of oppressive behavior between July –December 2004 increased by seven per cent from the same period the previous year.  The records are well over a year behind because the Police Ombudsman’s office released its report on the first six months of use only.  Who knows what the current situation is?  It’s a safe idea, however, to wear a gas mask if traveling West of the Bann.

II.        Contact Dr Mitchell Reiss and US State Department

Mr. Reiss insists the PSNI is becoming the best police service in Western Europe and insists Gerry Adams’s US fundraising visa will not be issued until he and his party endorse it.

Some of the things you may wish to ask are:

1. Why did it take 6 PSNI officers and a serious [and possibly illegal] spraying of dangerous CS gas to subdue a 62 year old man?  Self defense?
2. If the charges are assorted resisting arrest offenses, what was the offense that caused the PSNI to single out Mr. Darcy at a check point outside his home?
3. Why was the Police Ombudsman’s office denied access to Mr. Darcy on Sunday morning while he was in custody and why was he left bleeding in the rain for over an hour?
4. What is going on in the nationalist areas West of the Bann?

Mitchell Reiss is no longer Policy Planning chief in the Department of State, although he still serves as Special Envoy to Northern Ireland.  He’s not easy to find; however, his office phone number at the State Dep’t is 202-647- 2972.  The Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, can be reached at 202-647-5291.

An email to both can be accomplished by going to the “contact us” section of the Department of State web site [www.state.gov] or go directly to: 

http://contact-us/state.gov/egi-bin/state.cfg/php/enduser/home.php.