Donegal council backs motion for Ulm 5 activists’ release

Donegal County Council has adopted a motion urging the immediate release of the five pro‑Palestinian activists, known as the Ulm 5, who are currently detained in Germany.

The motion, tabled by Independent Councillor Micheál Choilm Mac Giolla Easbuig, also calls on the Irish Government to ensure consular observation of the trial at Stuttgart‑Stammheim in Baden‑Württemberg. It will be sent to the Minister for Foreign Affairs under the department’s Consular Assistance Charter.

The group includes Dublin‑born Daniel Tatlow‑Devally, 32, an Irish citizen, and four other activists from Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom. They were arrested after an alleged action at the German office of Elbit Systems, an Israeli‑headquartered weapons supplier, and face charges of trespassing, causing roughly €1 million in property damage and membership of an illegal organisation. The trial began in April 2026, and the defendants have been in custody since September 2025.

Councillor Declan Meehan, who seconded the motion, said the presence of an Irish citizen gives the Government a legitimate interest in protecting his rights and that pre‑trial detention should not become punishment before a verdict.

In response, the Irish Government has confirmed it is providing consular assistance to Tatlow‑Devally and has been in direct contact with him regarding his detention conditions.

To raise funds, Councillor Mac Giolla Easbuig has organised a movie night at Scioból an Phobail Annagry on Friday 2 October, with Tatlow‑Devally’s sister Clara scheduled to speak.

Source: Donegal Daily. Photo: Phil Evenden / Pexels.