Courts / Dublin / Report
20 second sit-down protest that obstructed Israeli ambassador was unlawful
Summary
Stephen Bennett, 45, of Pearse Green, Sallynoggin, was convicted in the District Court for a 20‑second sit‑down protest that obstructed the Israeli Ambassador's car and an unmarked Garda vehicle outside the Israeli Embassy in Dublin. The protest, which occurred after the July 2014 Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, was described as generally peaceful and without any threat of violence. Bennett and another protester lay on the road, causing a brief obstruction that was ended by Garda intervention. Bennett argued that the prosecution had not proved he had obstructed traffic without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, but the District Judge found safety, security, and sensitivity concerns made the obstruction unlawful. He was given a five‑month suspended sentence. The Court of Appeal upheld the conviction, noting that the protest could not be justified under the Public Order Act because no lawful authority or reasonable excuse existed in this case.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 20 second sit-down protest that obstructed Israeli ambassador was unlawful. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Convicted
When:
- July 2014 Incident
- 2018-01-25 Publication
Why: The obstruction caused by the sit down protest lasted approximately 20 seconds because of the "quick intervention by gardaí rather than any decision" by Bennett to end it. CNI source report
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; Stephen Bennett (45), of Pearse Green, Sallynoggin, was convicted and given a suspended sentence in the District Court for preventing or interrupting the free passage of a person or vehicle in a public place. She convicted Bennett, and his fellow protestor, and gave him a five month suspended sentence.
Places mentioned
- Court of Appeal
- High Court
- The High Court
Topics
Public Order Stage Appeal Violent Crime
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