Today, Easter Monday (April 5), as Diarmuid Mac Dubhghlais stood outside the GPO for a minute’s silence in honour of all patriots who died trying to establish the Republic he was harassed by several members of the 26-County police. Diarmuid (as always) refused to speak English and insisted on the use of Gaeilge. After several minutes of a standoff Diarmuid was arrested. As he was being put into the van a witness heard one of the police shout at him “I’ll give you fuc*ing Irish!”

Of the ten or so police there, none had Gaeilge and Diarmuid was bundled into a police van to “answer questions” in the station. At Mountjoy Station he again insisted on the use of Gaeilge so the staff had to make a call-out for anyone with, even rudimentary Gaeilge. After a short delay of 16 to 20 minutes someone was brought to question him.

He was held in the cells for two hours and released with two charges: (1) failing to give name and address and (2) leaving his place of residence without reasonable excuse. It is lamentable that those who work for the State and who daily deal with the public do not have (what supposedly is) the first language of the State, but also that it is still perceived by the police as a rebellious act to place flowers and stand in memory for those who founded the Republic in arms 105 years ago.

Inniu, Luan Cásca (Aibreán 5ú), seas Diarmuid Mac Dubhghlais taobh amuigh de Oifig an Phoist Ginerálta, Baile Átha Cliath ar feadh tost nóiméad in onóir de gach tírghráthóra a fuair bás ag iarraidh an Phoblacht a bhunú.

Rinne ciapadh air ag roinnt ball de póilíní an 26-Contae. Dhiúltaigh Diarmuid (mar a ndeannann sé í gcónaí) Béarla a labhairt agus d’áitigh sé Gaeilge a úsáid. Tar éis cúpla nóiméad thall is anall idir Diarmuid agus na pólíní, gabhadh é. Agus é a chur isteach sa veain chuala finné ball de na póilíní ag béicíl air “I’ll give you fcukin Irish!”

As na deich póilíní nó mar sin a bhí ann, ní raibh Gaeilge ag aon cheann acu agus cuachtaíodh Diarmuid sa veain-póilíní chun “ceisteanna a fhreagairt” sa stáisiún. D’áitigh sé arís í stáisiún Mountjoy an Ghaeilge a úsáid agus mar sin bhí ar an bhfoireann glaoch a chuir amach do dhuine ar bith a raibh fiú Gaeilge bunúsach aige. Tar éis moill ghearr 16 go 20 nóiméad tugadh duine cuige, chun é a cheistiú.

Coinníodh é sna cealla ar feadh dhá uair agus scaoileadh saor é le dhá chúiseamh: (1) gan ainm agus seoladh a thabhairt agus (2) ag fágáil a áit chónaithe gan leithscéal réasúnach.Is mór an trua nach bhfuil (mar a cheaptar) céad teanga an stáit ag na daoine a oibríonn don stát agus a bhíonn ag plé go laethúil leis an bpobal, ach freisin go mbreathnaíonn na póilíní fós mar ghníomh ceannairceach chun bláthanna a chur agus seasamh i gcuimhne iad siúd a bhunaigh an Phoblacht in arm 105 bliain ó shin.

CRÍOCH/ENDS

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