The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has come under scrutiny for the arrest of two women, including a 72-year-old pensioner, during a pro-Palestinian protest in Belfast. Sue Pentel, a prominent member of Jews for Palestine Ireland, along with another woman in her 50s, were taken into custody outside a Barclays Bank branch on Castle Place. The reason for their arrest was suspicion of criminal damage, as stickers had been placed on an ATM during the demonstration.
Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson defended the actions of the officers involved, stating that their response was deemed “lawful and proportionate” after reviewing body-cam footage of the incident. He emphasized the importance of allowing due process to take its course while assuring the public that the officers conducted themselves with professionalism and courtesy during the arrest.
During a subsequent protest outside Musgrave Street PSNI station, a group of pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered to express their discontent over the arrests. This comes as part of a wider campaign by pro-Palestinian groups targeting Barclays branches across the UK, urging the bank to discontinue investments in certain companies linked to the Israeli occupation.
Following the arrests, solicitor Pádraig Ó Muirigh, representing Ms. Pentel, asserted that she had engaged in peaceful protest and had not committed any offense warranting criminalization. Amnesty International’s Northern Ireland director, Patrick Corrigan, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the fundamental importance of the right to peaceful protest in a democracy. Corrigan criticized the arrest of individuals for minor infractions such as placing stickers, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach to upholding individual rights and freedoms
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