RSYM Derry Activists Scale Crane In Protest Of 18 Year Old Imprisoned Over Patsy O'Hara Shirt

Activists from the Republican Socialist Youth Movement (RSYM) scaled a crane in the Bogside area of Derry yesterday evening in protest of the imprisonment of comrade Christopher “Crippy” Dillon by the Crown Forces. 

They unfurled a tricolour, a starry plough flag and a banner which read “Free Crippy” before setting off red flares. 

“When the Orange Order planned to march along Garvaghy Road, Christopher tried to join his comrades in standing with the local community. He was arrested at a PSNI checkpoint and accused of breaking the bail conditions imposed on him. He was then refused bail in a British court, “ the RSYM explained in a statement. 

“The RSYM regards Christopher’s case as emblematic of a wider political question: where the state imposes restrictions upon political expression and then uses those restrictions as the basis for further criminalisation, “ they added.

“Today it is a young republican wearing a commemorative shirt. Tomorrow, the same mechanisms of criminalisation could be applied to another activist, another community or another form of political expression. The question confronting society is not whether every person agrees with Christopher’s politics or with the history being commemorated. The question is whether freedom of expression and political association are rights that extend even to those with whom we profoundly disagree, “ they explained. 

The RSYM will not accept the idea that legitimate political activism & commemoration should be viewed through the prism of terrorism legislation, nor will we accept the normalisation of measures that can restrict young activists from participating in political demonstrations and community solidarity, “ they continued. 

“We therefore call upon republicans of all political traditions, human-rights activists, community organisations, civil-liberties campaigners and all those who believe in democratic freedoms to examine this case and speak out against the expanding criminalisation of political activism, “ they concluded. 

Dillion, 18,  was charged with supporting a proscribed “terrorist” organisation by the Stormont regime over the wearing of a commemorative Patsy O’Hara t-shirt in July 2026. 

He was jailed late September for breaching his curfew conditions as he was en route to show solidarity to Garvaghy Road residents. 

The events have sparked outrage amongst the socialist republican community, who say that this is just another instance of political policing of socialists and republicans in the occupied 6 counties of Ireland.