Eamon Farrell, editor of Photocall Ireland, has stated that Gardai showed up at their offices armed with court summonses for the photojournalist who had been covering some of the protests and also an office manager who had copied some images for gardai
Mr. Farrell confirmed that the agency had initially refused to hand the images over, unless a warrant was issued. Gardai eventually produced this warrant, and he was forced to give the images under duress.
Mr. Farrell also said that this was the third time that Photocall had refused to hand images over, and the first time a warrant had been used to seize such photographs.
He insisted that it is not the role of the company to cooperate with Gardai, if only to maintain a neutral view of events, as the company should not be perceived as the ‘Eyes and Ears’ of the Gardai. To do so would transform the company into an instrument of totalitarianism.