Terrorism trial for Irish man in Germany to begin on Wednesday

Dubliner Daniel Tatlow-Devally faces a non-jury trial in Stuttgart.

Devally is currently held in prison in Ulm before his trial on Wednesday. According to his supporters, he has been held in 23-hour solitary confinement, with just two 30-minute visits per month. He has not been allowed to receive or take phone calls.

Daniel and four other Palestine activists took part in a direct action at Elbit Systems in Ulm, Germany in September last year. Elbit Systems Germany is a 100% owned subsidiary of Elbit Israel, responsible for over 80% of the weapons used in the Gaza genocide.

The “Ulm 5” engaged in an act of civil disobedience damaging property and spray painting on a wall. which supporters say posed no threat to anyone at any stage. They did not conceal their faces and awaited the arrival of the police. 

Although this is a case of property damage only, they are being tried under legislation and in conditions normally reserved for terrorism and organised crime, known as Section 129, carrying up to five years in prison as a possible sentence.

The trial runs on various non-consecutive days making it challenging for family and legal observers to attend.

The cross-party delegation is People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett, Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan, Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger TD, Sinn Féin TD Mairéad Farrell, Labour Party TD Duncan Smith, Social Democrats Senator Patricia Stephenson, and Fine Gael TD Barry Ward.

Tomorrow, Richard Boyd Barrett, Mairéad Farrell and Barry Ward will visit Daniel in prison where the Ulm 5 are being held in inhumane conditions and effective solitary confinement. The full cross-party delegation will attend the trial early on Wednesday morning in Stuttgart. 

Richard Boyd Barrett is deeply concerned that no recording or transcript of the proceedings of the trial is being taken and that the Irish government has not yet sent any observer to the trial, despite repeated requests. 

The delegation is calling on the Irish government to send observers to the hearings, which are set to continue until January of next year while all the defendants remain in high security prisons.   

Richard Boyd Barrett TD said: “Daniel Tatlow Devally’s family lives in my constituency and on several occasions, on behalf of Daniel's family, I have raised grave concerns with the government about the treatment of Daniel and unfair trial proceedings, and urged them to send observers to the trial. Despite the repeated pleas, the government has refused to send observers to the trial. 

“Because of the inaction of the Irish government, I initiated a cross-party group to attend the trial of Daniel and the Ulm 5, and I’m pleased that such a strong cross party delegation is travelling to Germany this week. 

“The visit is intended to highlight what is happening in Germany. All accounts about the nature of the prosecution, of their treatment and of the trial proceedings suggest that Daniel and the Ulm 5 are not getting a fair trial 

“The cross-party delegation is now trying to do what the government should be doing, by going to observe what is happening.  We hope this will prompt the government to urgently send observers to the rest of the trial and put pressure on the German authorities to ensure the rights of the defendants to a fair trial are upheld. 

“This is a prolonged trial that is scheduled to continue until January next year. The Irish government urgently needs to send observers to protect the rights of an Irish citizen, and the basic right to a fair trial.”

To donate to Devally's legal fund, click here.