Irish Protester Hospitalised After Assault by German Police

An Irish citizen, identified as Kitty O’Brien, has been hospitalised following an incident involving German police during a protest in Berlin. The demonstration, which protested the killing of journalists in Gaza by Israeli air strikes, escalated into violence, resulting in O’Brien’s assault and subsequent arrest.

Witnesses reported that O’Brien was punched twice by a police officer during a confrontation at the front line of the protest on March 15, 2024. Footage of the incident captured O’Brien’s reaction, where she defiantly told the police, “you don’t f**king scare us,” moments before being detained. Following the assault, she suffered severe injuries, including a broken arm requiring significant surgery at Charité University Hospital.

The event has prompted widespread outrage, leading to protests in both Dublin and Derry City over the weekend. Speaking from Kerry, Taoiseach Micheál Martin expressed his “deep concern” regarding the incident, deeming the assault “unacceptable.” The Department of Foreign Affairs indicated they are prepared to provide consular assistance to O’Brien if requested.

O’Brien was participating in a pro-Palestinian protest that was described as a “civil disobedience demonstration,” as it had not been registered with local authorities. The protest took place in Mitte, a central district of Berlin, near significant landmarks such as Alexanderplatz and the Reichstag government building.

The event was characterised by chaos, with police presence heavily noted in the area prior to the protest. Roisín Clarke, a fellow demonstrator from the Irish Bloc Berlin, described the atmosphere as intense, recalling how police were actively monitoring individuals arriving at train stations. She stated, “A lot of police were around the city centre beforehand, checking if people coming out of the train stations were wearing keffiyehs.”

Clarke further explained that the protestors were positioned on either side of a main street, and tensions escalated as they began chanting pro-Palestinian slogans. “They were telling us to leave and pushing us down the street,” she recalled, noting that police vans sealed off exits, creating further disorientation among demonstrators.

The police later claimed that O’Brien verbally insulted officers during her detention, allegedly using terms such as “genocide supporters” and “f**king Nazis.” A spokesperson for the Berlin Police confirmed that the police offences watchdog is reviewing the incident to assess whether the police response was disproportionate or criminal.

Overall, the police reported that around 80 individuals were arrested during the protest, with a total of 94 people subjected to “freedom-restricting measures.” Although all detained individuals were later released after their identities were verified, the incident has raised significant concerns about police conduct during demonstrations.

Both investigations into O’Brien’s actions and the police response are ongoing. The Irish government remains engaged with local authorities in Germany regarding the matter, as the situation continues to unfold.