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The street sign on Victoria Road, Cork Facebook

Cork councillor says he was called a 'stupid eejit' by gardaí after British street signs protest

The Cork Street Names Campaign object to use of British street names in the city.

A CORK COUNCILLOR says he was “belittled” by gardaí after he was arrested for painting over street signs in Cork city.

Diarmaid Ó Cadhla of the Cork Street Names Campaign objects to the continued use of street names that stem from British colonialism.

As part of the campaign, the group painted over the word ‘Victoria’ on the street sign for Victoria Road in Cork city.

Ó Cadhla admits his part in the action and says he agreed to a request from gardaí to speak to them at Bridewell Garda Station in the city on Monday.

On attending the garda station,  Ó Cadhla says he was arrested and held. An action he says was “way over the top”.

“The gardai are of course entitled to and of course should investigate,” he told The Neil Prendeville Show on Cork’s Red FM

I went and I admitted fully what was in question but to then have my liberty deprived of me for over three-and-a-half hours and subjected to intensive questioning and quite belittled.

“I was verbally abused and made to feel little for my role. Should the role of the gardaí not be to dispassionately investigate and make a recommendation to the DPP?”,  Ó Cadhla said.

Asked about the nature of the alleged verbal abuse, Ó Cadhla said he was called a “stupid eejit”.

“I was taken outside the front door, thinking we’re going  to have a quiet chat there and then told I’m to be placed under arrest. I was brought back in, shirt, tie, all the bits removed. Pockets emptied. Photographs taken, fingerprinted, would you believe they even took DNA samples from me? ”

doc Diarmaid Ó Cadhla

Genocide

The Cork Street Names Campaign have said that the only reason they engaged in the act of “civil disobedience” was because they were denied their chance to present proposals at a meeting of Cork City Council.

Spokesperson Tony Walsh said Cork street names should reflect people from “our history and culture” from the fields of “science, medicine and sport as well as our patriotic tradition.”

“It does not reflect well on the people that we honour criminals and those who committed genocide against our forefathers,” Walsh said.

Gardai have confirmed that an individual in his 50s was arrested on Monday in connection with an incident of alleged criminal damage on Victoria Road on 2 February.

A spokesperson said the individual was released without charge and a file is being prepared for the DPP.

Gardaí have also been asked to comment on allegations by Ó Cadhla that he was verbally abused whilst in custody.

Read: A protest group is painting over the names of ‘British-sounding’ streets in Cork >

Read: Drivers in Dublin and Cork most likely to have broken speed limits recently >

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    Mute Kerry Blake
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    Sep 18th 2016, 6:53 PM

    In fairness the owners may be well off but they have lousy taste in art.

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    Mute Peter Cavey
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    Sep 18th 2016, 6:23 PM

    I bet it’s haunted.

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    Mute Billy Larkin
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    Sep 18th 2016, 10:25 PM

    I bet its haunted too.That might explain the relatively small asking price.

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    Mute John Galvin
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    Sep 18th 2016, 8:42 PM

    3200 sqft. It looks way more than that unless the realtors are up to their tricks again!

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    Mute John Galvin
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    Sep 18th 2016, 9:37 PM

    Hmm I take that back. The castle is made up of four separate homes and so only one of them is for sale? Yeah no thanks

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    Mute Finnster
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    Sep 18th 2016, 11:41 PM

    This can’t be right I’m after paying over 2.5 m for a 3 bedroom in dulwich village. I’m feeling done .

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    Mute Regina Rose Cleary
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    Sep 18th 2016, 9:14 PM

    That must be a typo …3.6 million… No way … Must have serious preservation orders on it or must need major renovations

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    Mute Alan Dignam
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    Sep 18th 2016, 10:28 PM

    Agree 100% € 3.2 million is pocket change in the London realty market.

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    Mute Patrick Brompton
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    Sep 19th 2016, 12:55 AM

    I remember when all of the castle was for sale at £90,000 in the 1970.’s. It did not find a buyer until a group of local people decided to try communal living.

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