A cross party delegation of Irish politicians is requesting the Irish Government send observers to the trial of the Ulm 5, the group currently on trial in Germany for charges related to pro-Palestinian protest actions.
The Ulm 5 includes Irish citizen Daniel Tatlow Devally. The defendants, linked to Palestine Action Germany, have been in detention since September.
Prosecutors argue that Palestine Action Germany is a “criminal organisation”, while the defence says the main offence committed is property damage.
The Irish delegation, which includes TDs Mairéad Farrell, Richard Boyd-Barrett, Ruth Coppinger, Duncan Smith, MEP Lynn Boylan, and Senator Patricia Stephenson, have written to the Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee, asking her to send monitors to the trial proceedings.
“The Ulm 5 lawyers have said that they believe that their human rights are being breached by the court and, based on our in-person observations, we concur with that,” TD Farrell said in a statement.
To the Minister, the delegation writes, “We are asking the Irish Government to send observers to this trial as a matter of urgency. This monitoring is legally permitted and essential, particularly as no independent record or transcript of the trial proceedings is available.”
According to the letter, there is precedence for Irish Department of Foreign Affairs officials conducting trial observations.
If found guilty, the Ulm 5 will face up to five years in prison.
