Latest news with #SuePentel
The Independent
25-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Grandmothers arrested at Palestine protest ‘robustly deny any criminal offence'
Two grandmothers arrested following a pro- Palestine protest in Belfast 'robustly deny they have committed any criminal offence'. Sue Pentel and Martine McCullough were arrested earlier this year by police investigating an incident of criminal damage at a Barclays Bank in the city. Ms Pentel, 72, was detained by officers along with Martine McCullough, aged in her 50s, on May 24 while protesting outside the bank in Castle Place over an incident at a previous protest at the bank on April 26. The two attended Musgrave Street police station in Belfast city centre on Wednesday morning for the pre-arranged interview under caution. Fellow campaigners staged a protest in solidarity with the women outside the station, with applause and calls of 'we're with you' as they arrived. Solicitor Padraig O Muirigh, who represents the two women, said they 'robustly deny that they have committed any criminal offence'. 'Our clients have been involved in peaceful protests against the ongoing genocide in Gaza which has been ongoing now for 628 days,' he said. 'Today's interviews under caution follow their arrests on the 24th May 2025. 'My clients robustly deny that they have committed any criminal offence and maintain that they should not be subjected to criminal investigations for exercising their right to peaceful protest against the atrocities being committed in Gaza.' He added: 'Our clients will robustly contest their innocence and defend their rights under the European Convention on Human Rights to freedom of assembly and expression if a decision is made to prosecute them.' Jewish grandmother Ms Pentel is a high-profile campaigner against Israel's military offensive on Gaza. Videos circulated online of the arrest of Ms Pentel indicate the alleged offence related to the placing of stickers on the bank's ATM machine. Barclays has been a target for pro-Palestine protesters who claim the bank is linked to companies supplying weapons to Israel. Barclays has previously addressed the criticism, saying it provides financial services to nine defence companies supplying Israel but does not directly invest in such firms. The bank has said it has become the target of a disinformation campaign over its ties to defence companies. Speaking earlier on Wednesday, Ms Pentel said they are 'proud to peacefully protest outside Barclays'. 'We've been doing it for the last eight months,' she said. 'To protest the genocide, to protest the violence, to protest the way that Israel feels its OK to starve children, to stop humanitarian aid while the world looks on. 'Well, we won't look on, we won't remain silent.' She added: 'We understand that we've been asked to be interviewed under caution, and we're voluntarily going in about an incident on April 26 and all we can say is we're proud to demonstrate with our amazing colleagues every week outside Barclays. 'We have the right to peacefully protest, we want to thank our solicitor Padraig O Muirigh for his time and advice. 'We have the right to peacefully protest and we will continue to do it until the genocide stops. 'We're two grandmothers, when our grandchildren ask us what we did, we know what we'll say, we stood up, we spoke out, we weren't silent, and as a Jewish person I am absolutely ashamed of anybody either Israeli Jewish or London Jewish or wherever who doesn't stand up and who thinks this is OK.'
Belfast Telegraph
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
Two women arrested during pro-Palestine rally quizzed under caution amid protest outside PSNI station
Long-standing campaigner and member of Jews for Palestine Ireland, Sue Pentel (72) were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage during a rally outside a Barclays bank branch on Castle Place on Saturday, May 24. Martine McCullough, who is aged in her 50s, was also arrested in connection with the same alleged incident said to have occurred at an earlier demonstration during which stickers were placed on an ATM. Solicitor Padraig Ó Muirigh, who is representing both suspects, said his office was contacted by the PSNI to confirm both his clients would be quizzed by detectives in relation to a protest that took place at the same location on April 26, 2025. "A protest has been organised by supporters of our clients at 11am this morning at Musgrave Street police station when our clients are due to arrive to be interviewed by the PSNI,' he said in a statement issued on Wednesday morning. Fellow campaigners staged a protest in solidarity with the pair outside the PSNI station. Activists applauded and chanted 'we're with you' as both women arrived to be questioned. A defiant Ms Pentel said they are 'proud to peacefully protest outside Barclays' which they have been doing it for the last eight months. The Jewish grandmother also vowed to keep raising her voice. 'To protest the genocide, to protest the violence, to protest the way that Israel feels its OK to starve children, to stop humanitarian aid while the world looks on," Ms Pentel continued. 'Well, we won't look on, we won't remain silent. 'We understand that we've been asked to be interviewed under caution, and we're voluntarily going in about an incident on April 26 and all we can say is we're proud to demonstrate with our amazing colleagues every week outside Barclays. 'We have the right to peacefully protest, we want to thank our solicitor Padraig O Muirigh for his time and advice. 'We have the right to peacefully protest and we will continue to do it until the genocide stops. 'We're two grandmothers, when our grandchildren ask us what we did, we know what we'll say, we stood up, we spoke out, we weren't silent, and as a Jewish person I am absolutely ashamed of anybody either Israeli Jewish or London Jewish or wherever who doesn't stand up and who thinks this is OK.' Israel has been widely criticised for its military operation in Gaza launched in response to a deadly Hamas terror attack on October 7, 2023. Netanyahu hits back at Starmer over Gaza military offensive Militants wore cameras to record the massacre which resulted in 1,200 people being killed including hundreds of young people attending a music festival in Israel. Hamas also took 251 hostages and dozens remain in captivity with less than half believed to still be alive. According to the Hamas-run health ministry, more than 55,000 Palestinians have died since the current conflict began. The International Criminal Court has previously issued arrest warrants for Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and the country's former defence minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes which Israel denies. A warrant was also issued for a Hamas commander. Ms Pentel and Ms McCullough previously complained about "being criminalised" for their views on the conflict in the Middle East and insisted they were engaged in peaceful protest – they both refuted allegations of criminal damage. The PSNI defended its stance saying that body-cam footage was reviewed and the officer's actions were "lawful and proportionate". Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson previously said that while the right to both freedom of speech and assembly are "fundamental human rights... they must be balanced with the need to uphold the rights of others, protect public health and safety, minimise disruption to normal life and by the need to prevent and detect crime." Barclays has become a target for pro-Palestine protesters who claim the bank is linked to companies supplying weapons to Israel. The firm has previously expressed concerns that it has become the target of a disinformation campaign and addressed criticism by pointing out it provides financial services to nine defence companies supplying Israel, but does not directly invest in such firms.
Glasgow Times
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Grandmother arrested at pro-Palestine protest ‘proud to keep demonstrating'
Sue Pentel, 72, was detained by officers on suspicion of criminal damage, along with Martine McCullough, aged in her 50s, on May 24 while protesting outside the bank on Castle Place over an incident at a previous protest at the bank on April 26. The pair attended Musgrave Street police station in Belfast city centre on Wednesday for a pre-arranged interview under caution with officers. Sue Pentel and Martine McCullough attend Musgrave Street police station in Belfast for a pre-arranged interview under caution after the pair were arrested earlier this year on suspicion of criminal damage at a pro-Palestine protest outside Barclay's Bank (Rebecca Black/PA) Fellow campaigners staged a protest in solidarity with the pair outside the station, with applause and calls of 'we're with you' as they arrived. Jewish grandmother Ms Pentel is a high-profile campaigner against Israel's military offensive on Gaza. Videos circulated online of the arrest of Ms Pentel indicate the alleged offence related to the placing of stickers on the bank's ATM machine. Barclays has been a target for pro-Palestine protesters who claim the bank is linked to companies supplying weapons to Israel. Barclays has previously addressed the criticism, saying it provides financial services to nine defence companies supplying Israel but does not directly invest in such firms. The bank has said it has become the target of a disinformation campaign over its ties to defence companies. Ms Pentel said they are 'proud to peacefully protest outside Barclays'. 'We've been doing it for the last eight months,' she said. 'To protest the genocide, to protest the violence, to protest the way that Israel feels its OK to starve children, to stop humanitarian aid while the world looks on. 'Well, we won't look on, we won't remain silent.' (l-r) Sue Pentel and Martine McCullough, and their solicitor Padraig O Muirigh arrive at Musgrave Street police station in Belfast for a pre-arranged police interview after the pair were arrested last month pro-Palestine protest outside a Barclays bank (Rebecca Black/PA) She added: 'We understand that we've been asked to be interviewed under caution, and we're voluntarily going in about an incident on April 26 and all we can say is we're proud to demonstrate with our amazing colleagues every week outside Barclays. 'We have the right to peacefully protest, we want to thank our solicitor Padraig O Muirigh for his time and advice. 'We have the right to peacefully protest and we will continue to do it until the genocide stops. 'We're two grandmothers, when our grandchildren ask us what we did, we know what we'll say, we stood up, we spoke out, we weren't silent, and as a Jewish person I am absolutely ashamed of anybody either Israeli Jewish or London Jewish or wherever who doesn't stand up and who thinks this is OK.'
Leader Live
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Leader Live
Grandmother arrested at pro-Palestine protest ‘proud to keep demonstrating'
Sue Pentel, 72, was detained by officers on suspicion of criminal damage, along with Martine McCullough, aged in her 50s, on May 24 while protesting outside the bank on Castle Place over an incident at a previous protest at the bank on April 26. The pair attended Musgrave Street police station in Belfast city centre on Wednesday for a pre-arranged interview under caution with officers. Fellow campaigners staged a protest in solidarity with the pair outside the station, with applause and calls of 'we're with you' as they arrived. Jewish grandmother Ms Pentel is a high-profile campaigner against Israel's military offensive on Gaza. Videos circulated online of the arrest of Ms Pentel indicate the alleged offence related to the placing of stickers on the bank's ATM machine. Barclays has been a target for pro-Palestine protesters who claim the bank is linked to companies supplying weapons to Israel. Barclays has previously addressed the criticism, saying it provides financial services to nine defence companies supplying Israel but does not directly invest in such firms. The bank has said it has become the target of a disinformation campaign over its ties to defence companies. Ms Pentel said they are 'proud to peacefully protest outside Barclays'. 'We've been doing it for the last eight months,' she said. 'To protest the genocide, to protest the violence, to protest the way that Israel feels its OK to starve children, to stop humanitarian aid while the world looks on. 'Well, we won't look on, we won't remain silent.' She added: 'We understand that we've been asked to be interviewed under caution, and we're voluntarily going in about an incident on April 26 and all we can say is we're proud to demonstrate with our amazing colleagues every week outside Barclays. 'We have the right to peacefully protest, we want to thank our solicitor Padraig O Muirigh for his time and advice. 'We have the right to peacefully protest and we will continue to do it until the genocide stops. 'We're two grandmothers, when our grandchildren ask us what we did, we know what we'll say, we stood up, we spoke out, we weren't silent, and as a Jewish person I am absolutely ashamed of anybody either Israeli Jewish or London Jewish or wherever who doesn't stand up and who thinks this is OK.'
The Independent
25-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Grandmother arrested at pro-Palestine protest ‘proud to keep demonstrating'
A pensioner arrested at a pro-Palestine protest outside a Barclays bank in Belfast has said she is proud to keep demonstrating. Sue Pentel, 72, was detained by officers on suspicion of criminal damage, along with Martine McCullough, aged in her 50s, on May 24 while protesting outside the bank on Castle Place over an incident at a previous protest at the bank on April 26. The pair attended Musgrave Street police station in Belfast city centre on Wednesday for a pre-arranged interview under caution with officers. Fellow campaigners staged a protest in solidarity with the pair outside the station, with applause and calls of 'we're with you' as they arrived. Jewish grandmother Ms Pentel is a high-profile campaigner against Israel's military offensive on Gaza. Videos circulated online of the arrest of Ms Pentel indicate the alleged offence related to the placing of stickers on the bank's ATM machine. Barclays has been a target for pro-Palestine protesters who claim the bank is linked to companies supplying weapons to Israel. Barclays has previously addressed the criticism, saying it provides financial services to nine defence companies supplying Israel but does not directly invest in such firms. The bank has said it has become the target of a disinformation campaign over its ties to defence companies. Ms Pentel said they are 'proud to peacefully protest outside Barclays'. 'We've been doing it for the last eight months,' she said. 'To protest the genocide, to protest the violence, to protest the way that Israel feels its OK to starve children, to stop humanitarian aid while the world looks on. 'Well, we won't look on, we won't remain silent.' She added: 'We understand that we've been asked to be interviewed under caution, and we're voluntarily going in about an incident on April 26 and all we can say is we're proud to demonstrate with our amazing colleagues every week outside Barclays. 'We have the right to peacefully protest, we want to thank our solicitor Padraig O Muirigh for his time and advice. 'We have the right to peacefully protest and we will continue to do it until the genocide stops. 'We're two grandmothers, when our grandchildren ask us what we did, we know what we'll say, we stood up, we spoke out, we weren't silent, and as a Jewish person I am absolutely ashamed of anybody either Israeli Jewish or London Jewish or wherever who doesn't stand up and who thinks this is OK.'
