‘Disappointment' as Gardaí 'fail to record' report of criminal damage to pro-life poster

Organisers of the Rally for Life say that they are “disappointed but not surprised” that an Garda Síochana “failed to record” a complaint of criminal destruction of pro-life posters, even though a call was made to Rathmines Garda station after abortion supporters tore the poster down. 

A video of the poster being targeted is going viral on Twitter with 100,000 views already racked up.  

The Rally committee had received permission to erect posters advertising the event which takes place this Saturday beginning in Parnell Square at 1pm. 

However, despite a complaint being called in to Rathmines Gardaí on Sunday by a rally organiser, Gript Media was informed by the Garda press office that no complaint had been recorded. 

Megan Ní Scealláin of the Life Institute said that those removing the posters were “clearly opposed, not just to the right to life of the unborn child, but to the right to free expression and to free speech.” 

She said that it was extraordinary that the Garda station had not recorded the complaint. “I suppose we are disappointed but not surprised, to be honest,” she said. “This has been going on for years. Abortion campaigners can be very intolerant and hateful, and, rather than debate the issue, they often resort to aggression, such as tearing down the posters.” 

Niamh Uí Bhriain of the Life Institute said that pro-abortion activists were “clearly emboldened by the fact that they were allowed to get away with criminal actions.” 

“In the 2018 referendum, thousands of pro-life posters were torn down and the Gardaí did nothing,” she said. “Even when the perpetrators were caught in the act, there was no follow up. It seems close to political policing by the Gardaí,” she said. “Why was the complaint not recorded? We need an answer to that from an Garda Síochána.” 

The Rally, billed as the biggest pro-life event of the year, attracts thousands to march through Dublin each year. Ms Ní Scealláin said that it would seek to hold the government to account for “spiralling” abortion rates and to remind them of promises made to voters on the 3-day wait period before abortion.  

“The poster has been replaced by our volunteers,” she said. ” We are not going to be silenced by those who would bully everyone into submission.”  

In response to further enquiries from Gript Gardaí said they are “currently making enquiries” into the incident and will provide “a full response as soon as possible.”

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This piece was first published on Gript.