Irish Lawmakers Press Germany Over Activist’s Trial Conditions
LONDON-Irish politicians have called on their government to send official observers to Germany to monitor the trial of an Irish pro-Palestinian activist detained over an alleged break-in at an Israeli-owned arms factory, arguing that concerns over his prison conditions and access to legal representation warrant closer scrutiny.
The appeal follows a visit by a cross-party Irish delegation to Daniel Tatlow-Devally, one of five activists on trial in Germany after entering an Elbit Systems facility in the southern city of Ulm in September last year. Prosecutors allege the group caused damage estimated at around $1.13 million during the incident.
The delegation included lawmakers from several Irish political parties, among them Richard Boyd Barrett and Ruth Coppinger of People Before Profit-Solidarity, Barry Ward of Fine Gael, Duncan Smith of Labour, Social Democrat Senator Patricia Stephenson and Sinn Fein MEP Lynn Boylan.
Sinn Fein lawmaker Mairead Farrell said she was disturbed by the conditions under which Tatlow-Devally was being held following the delegation’s prison visit. According to Farrell, the activist spends 23 hours each day in a cell measuring approximately five by two meters and is permitted only one hour of visitation each month.
Farrell said the detention conditions appeared disproportionately severe given that the defendants were not accused of harming anyone. She also expressed concern about restrictions placed on communication between the accused and their legal teams during court proceedings.
The delegation attended a court hearing on Wednesday, Farrell said, but was prohibited from discussing the case with Tatlow-Devally. She described the German courtroom arrangements as unfamiliar, saying the defendants were positioned behind glass barriers that limited their ability to communicate freely with their lawyers.
According to Farrell, one of the defendants told the court that the security arrangements made it difficult to participate fully in the proceedings. Lawyers representing the accused have previously objected to the use of glass screens, arguing that the measures hinder effective communication with their clients.
The Irish delegation has urged Prime Minister Micheal Martin to raise the issue with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who is scheduled to visit Dublin on Tuesday. Farrell said they wanted Martin to discuss the detainees’ conditions, including Tatlow-Devally’s access to legal representation during the trial.
She also called for Ireland to assign official observers for the remainder of the proceedings, saying their attendance was necessary after what the delegation witnessed in court. Farrell added that members of the delegation intended to return to Germany before the trial concluded to continue monitoring developments.
Tatlow-Devally and the four co-defendants, who are citizens of Ireland, Britain, Germany and Spain, have publicly acknowledged their involvement in the Ulm incident through videos posted online. They said their actions were intended to draw attention to Germany’s support for Israel.
During a court appearance in May, Tatlow-Devally said he acted out of what he described as urgent humanitarian concerns and hoped to disrupt the delivery of arms from the Elbit Systems facility to Israel.
German authorities have charged the five defendants with trespassing, destruction of property and membership of Palestine Action, which is classified as a criminal organization in Germany. They have remained in custody after a court in Stuttgart denied bail, citing concerns that they posed a flight risk that could not be sufficiently addressed through financial guarantees.
If convicted, the defendants face prison sentences of up to five years.
The case comes amid broader legal action involving Palestine Action members in Europe. In June, four members of the group were jailed in the United Kingdom for their involvement in a separate incident at an Elbit Systems facility.
