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? ”

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.