Derry councillor “relishing the opportunity” to go to court over BDS protest

A Derry councillor was among a group of pro-Palestinian campaigners who arrested during a protest at a local supermarket, it has been revealed.

Independent councillor Gary Donnelly was arrested along five others who staged a Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) protest at Home Bargains last Saturday.

The campaigners which, included a jewish activist and an 81 year-old former-lecturer, were dressed in “toxic suits” as a “bit of theatre” for which the store manager had been informed of the planned action prior.

Since the conflict in Gaza began on October 7 last year, numerous protests have been staged across the city, which has included the boycotting of Israeli goods.

Several retailers have since refused to stock Israeli goods in their stores.

Speaking at Wednesday’s full meeting of Derry and Strabane District Council, Cllr Donnelly said he is “relishing the opportunity to discuss this in court.” 

At the meeting, People Before Profit councillor Shaun Harkin proposed a motion urging the council to write to the PSNI for clarification on the detainment and arrest of the Palestine solidarity campaigners.

Cllr Harkin described the actions of the PSNI as “heavy-handed”.

Sinn Féin councillor Christopher Jackson said the fundamental principle of the BDS campaign is that it is conducted in a respectful, peaceful and lawful way.

Cllr Jackson said protests “shouldn’t be done in an intimidatory way, it shouldn’t make anyone feel uncomfortable and the focus is to support the Palestinian people”. 

He added: “Anything that takes away from the plight of the people of Gaza at this particular time isn’t helpful at all. Our focus is to ensure that there is an immediate ceasefire right now, that humanitarian aid is granted and that we see an end to the genocide and the famine, which from our parties perspective is where our focus is.”

“Any action whether by the PSNI or any other body, that is distracting the people’s attention away from where it needs to be, needs to stop. If this motion goes in some way to reinforce that the BDS movement is peaceful, and it reinforces people's minds around what actions they can take to support the BDS campaign, then we’re supportive of it.”

DUP Alderman Niree McMorris declared her party’s rejection of the motion on the basis that she “was away at the weekend” and was not aware of the incident.

“I don’t think it’s privy of us to make any comment. If there is an investigation by the police, they should be able to carry out the investigation,” she said.

UUP Alderman Darren Guy sought clarification on the matter. 

He asked if items were removed from shelves or taken from the store.

Cllr Donnelly, who declared an interest in the motion due his arrest, described the incident.

Cllr Donnelly said: “I have been engaged in this type of activity for at least 20 years with veteran activists in this city including Goretti Horgan, Eileen Webster and Mary Nelis.

“The people involved in this action were a number of community workers, one of whom is Jewish, an elected representative; myself and an 81 year-old retired lecturer. We have been doing this now almost on a weekly basis for the last number of months. 

“There have never been any issues. The shops know the drill. 

“In this particular case people were dressed up in toxic suits. They spoke to the manager beforehand, and explained to the manager that it’s a bit of theatre, that it’s symbolic and it represents the toxicity of the products. It’s [the items] put into contamination bags, wrapped with contamination tape and they’re taken to the manager, who is asked to talk to the senior managers to ask them, because of the International Court of Justice ruling, that they shouldn’t be selling items that could potentially be from firms that are complicit in what the Israelis are doing.”

Cllr Donnelly blamed the PSNI for escalating the situation.

: “A large number of PSNI officers arrived at the scene, who spoke with the protestors and the manager, but as that was completed a number of very aggressive TSG (Territorial Support Group) members of the PSNI landed. The aggressiveness in this case was from the TSG and they escalated the situation. 

“I am one of the ones charged and bailed, and I am actually relishing getting the chance to go into a court and explain this because the whole place is covered in CCTV and it was filmed - I filmed it on my phone, which was then confiscated by the police. That’s what happened on the day.” 

Cllr Donnelly concluded: “Anyone involved in this activity has been told and agrees that if there is any confrontation; do not engage if people are aggressive towards them.”

SDLP councillor Brian Tierney said: “I think all protests should be peaceful, and I’m not insinuating that this one wasn’t, but I think we need to remember that the staff in this particular shop are local people and listening to Cllr Donnelly, I don’t know how they would have felt when they seen people coming in, in these toxic type suits. But the overriding position of the protestors is to make that theatre type scenario where people actually pay attention to what’s going on and removing the products in that way.”

“Assuming, and listening to Cllr Donnelly, this was all done in a peaceful way, I have no idea. And I've seen videos online before, where these protests have happened before in other stores across this city and district. 

“Maybe I am mistaken, but I have never known the PSNI to arrive, I’ve never known the TSG to arrive at these protests, and I’m slightly confused as to why they arrived at this one on Saturday.”

“I am going to be honest, I am slightly uncomfortable in being involved in an open PSNI investigation but in the nature of the reasoning for the protest, I think anything that is a distraction is something that isn’t needed. In that vein, and taking the people who were there at face value, the SDLP is happy to support the proposal at this stage.” 

The vote concluded with 28 for, six against, and one abstention. 

The PSNI confirmed that six people were arrested for disorderly behaviour following a protest at a retail premises in the Strand Road area of Derry on Saturday, April 20.

Inspector Craig said: “At approximately 2.20pm police received a report that a number of people had entered the shop to carry out a protest.

“Those involved began causing disruption in the premises and became aggressive and verbally abusive towards customers.

“Officers attended and six people were arrested on suspicion of disorderly behaviour.

“Two men aged 53 and 57 were released on bail to allow for further enquiries. 

“Four others, three men and a woman, were released pending a report to the Public Prosecution Service.

“I am appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the incident or to anyone who may have footage that could assist with enquiries, to contact police on 101 quoting reference 911 of 20/04/24.”