Case Against Arrested Activists Dismissed In Win For Liberties Community Centre

Two community activists have been released following their arrest this morning in a victory for the Anne Devlin Community Centre.

Following the eviction of the Liberties this morning by Gardaí and private security thugs, two activists were brought before the high court, where the case against them was immediately dismissed.

In a statement on social media, the Anne Devlin Community Centre and Revolutionary Housing League (RHL) said that despite threats of imprisonment, “the case was immediately dismissed”.

“This is due to all the support there's been for the Community Centre in the Liberties. The ruling class are terrified of a community that fights back!”

Protestors gathered outside the Four Courts in support of their comrades ahead of the hearing at 11am, where the case was dismissed by the High Court.

The community centre was established in May when members of the Revolutionary Housing League (RHL) occupied Ardee House, a Liberties pub vacant since 2010, and renamed it the Anne Devlin Community Centre. 

The building's owner, Black Sheep Investments, run by Teeling Whiskey founder Jack Teeling, had been seeking planning permission to demolish it for apartments, and won a High Court order restraining the activists' trespass. 

At a later hearing, Judge Brian Cregan declined to continue that order, citing sympathy for the activists, but imposed conditions on their activities pending a further court date. 

Gardaí later raided the homes of activists linked to the initiative, prompting widespread condemnation. 

Community centre activists have called on the public to join a protest this afternoon outside Teeling Whiskey against evictions and the destruction of local communities in the city.