Two Extinction Rebellion activists who believe the climate crisis “justified” locking themselves to the gates of Leinster House preventing politicians from driving out have been spared jail.
Dublin District Court heard Rónán Ó Dálaigh and Art Ó Laoghaire's "lock on, lock off" action saw them attach themselves to the Dáil gates with bicycle locks around their necks on the night of October 10th, 2019.
They argued they used "non-violent direct action" because of Government inaction.
Asked if they were prepared to apologise to people inconvenienced by their action, Ó Dálaigh told the court he was sorry to them "and those affected by the climate catastrophe". Ó Laoghaire also said he was apologetic to anyone discommoded that night.
Both were fined €500 after Judge John Hughes convicted them of public order offences for blocking the passage of vehicles and failing to leave the vicinity after being cautioned by gardaí at Merrion Street Upper.
Their "direct action" at Leinster House was an off-shoot of a wider week-long but officially sanctioned climate crisis event which allowed Merrion Square to be sectioned off for protests that attracted massive crowds.
The two men pleaded not guilty and faced a non-jury hearing on Thursday.
One of the charges carried a possible six-month sentence. Nevertheless, the pair told the court they believed their act was justified.
Ó Dálaigh (32) is the chief executive and founder of Thriftify, a social enterprise which helps charity shops sell online.
Ó Laoghaire (72) is a retired English-as-a-foreign-language teacher. He said he had been planning to retire to the Mediterranean until he attended an Extinction Rebellion event and got involved with the group’s campaigns.
The pair admitted in court they had broken the law, but were convinced it was necessary because of the climate crisis, and claimed Government inaction made the problem worse.
Video evidence showed them and other protesters locked to the gate for hours before gardaí cut them free and removed them at around midnight. No damage was caused to the gates.
The court heard politicians and Leinster House staff were blocked from driving out but were not prevented from leaving by foot.
They did not challenge the testimony of Detective Sergeant Ronan Waldron or the CCTV footage which showed them locked to the gate. Detective Sergeant Waldron described the defendants as "committed to the cause".
Ó Dálaigh, of Westbourne Grove, Clondalkin, Dublin, told Judge Hughes that Extinction Rebellion believe social change could be brought about by a combination of activities and one was "non-violent direct action", as used by the Suffragettes.
He accused the Government of blocking laws aimed at tackling the climate emergency, which has left him afraid it would worsen global warming, rising sea levels, reduced bio-diversity, crop failures and the risk of a refugee crisis.
The pair told the court they decided to block the Dáil gates, but people could leave through the pedestrian gates.
He said the protesters tried to engage with politicians there, but they were ignored despite evidence that millions of lives will be lost unless radical action was taken.
Civil disobedience
Under cross-examined, Ó Dálaigh accepted that gardaí had facilitated them with an area at Merrion Square which was closed off to traffic for climate protests all that week. He also agreed that they were engaging in civil disobedience but said it was not violent.
The former Reserve Defence forces member told Judge Hughes that the crisis had given him sleepless nights.
Father of two Ó Laoghaire, from Kilbride Grove, Bray, Co Wicklow, also accused the Government of ignoring the problem and said Extinction Rebellion had to be a "thorn in their side".
However, he did not believe the people in Government buildings had been seriously discommoded and any disruption to their lives was "trivial".
The court heard he has retired but continues voluntary work teaching English to Ukrainian refugees and volunteering for charity.
The judge asked him about his thoughts on the possible but unknown disruption caused to the personal lives of people working at Leinster House.
He replied they could "get a taxi" adding: "It is not as if they are impoverished people."
In pleas for leniency, the defence asked the judge to note the two are passionate about climate change campaigning and had honestly-held convictions.
The judge also noted they were not violent and gave them six months to pay the fines.
