A 24-year-old man who took part in an anti-globalisation protest outside the Burlington Hotel in Dublin last year was yesterday fined €800 for taking a garda's radio and committing two public order offences.
Thomas Kador (24), an Austrian national, of East Wall Road, Dublin, pleaded not guilty to the offences in Dublin District Court. He said that he had been beaten over the head at the protest by what he thought was a garda baton and had received six stitches.
The events occurred on October 10th 2001 outside the hotel, where a public/private partnership summit was being held. Gardaí gave evidence of the crowd throwing eggs, paint and flour and hitting gardaí with placards.
Sgt Liam Landers told the court that 150 to 200 people were protesting. At first, there were a number of speakers, including some politicians. It remained peaceful up to about 6.30 p.m. After that, 60 to 80 hard-core protesters stayed on. The crowd then surged towards the doors of the hotel and attempted to force their way through.
"They pushed their way through. The situation was getting out of control and I radioed for assistance. As I did, the defendant grabbed the radio from my arm and then attempted to go back into the crowd. I was face to face with him," Sgt Landers said.
As Kador went back into the crowd, he either dropped the radio or it fell.
Garda Mervyn Rice told the court that the hotel doors were blocked. Some people in the crowd then began throwing paint, flour and eggs. Garda reinforcements arrived. After the protesters had gone back out, they sat on the ground. He arrested Kador when he saw him in the crowd.
He then took Kador to Pearse Street Garda station and charged him. Kador was bleeding heavily from the head and was taken to St James's Hospital.
In evidence, Kador said that he worked in a night shelter for the homeless. Before that he had studied for his BA. When the protest began at 5.30 p.m. he was distributing leaflets along the street. After 6.30 p.m., the protest had moved, so he walked into the hotel car park. "I didn't go up to the gardaí at the door. I most definitely did not attempt to take the radio from the garda," he said.
Judge Gerard Haughton said that the Garda evidence of what happened outside had been corroborated by a video which the defence team had produced.
"I have not the slightest doubt that he was between the doors and that he did take the radio," the judge said.
On the larceny charge, he fined Kador €300. On the first public disorder charge the fine was €200 and on the second public disorder charge the fine was €300, all with three months to pay.