A group of Irish politicians has called on the government in Dublin to take a more active role in monitoring the trial of pro-Palestinian activists currently underway in Germany. The delegation, representing multiple parties, visited Stuttgart this week to observe proceedings involving the so-called Ulm 5, a group charged in connection with an attack on an Israeli arms manufacturer's facility last year.
Among the defendants is Daniel Tatlow-Devally, the only Irish national involved. The activists are accused of trespassing on the Ulm site owned by Elbit Systems last September, during which they reportedly caused approximately €1 million in damage by destroying equipment and breaking windows. The group posted videos online claiming responsibility, stating their actions aimed to highlight Germany’s support for Israel amid the conflict in Gaza. Germany ranks as the second-largest arms supplier to Israel after the United States.
The defendants face several charges including trespass, property damage, and membership in what German authorities classify as a criminal organization under section 129 of the criminal code. This designation allows authorities to regard the defendants as threats to public order and has been used to justify the continuation of their pre-trial detention beyond the usual six-month limit. If convicted, the activists could be sentenced to up to five years in prison.
Throughout the trial, the defendants have maintained that their actions were motivated by humanitarian concerns and intended to disrupt arms deliveries to Israel. Tatlow-Devally reportedly told the court in May that the group sought to intervene on urgent ethical grounds.
However, the legal process has attracted criticism regarding the pre-trial detention conditions. Members of the Irish delegation, including Sinn Féin’s Mairéad Farrell, who attended the hearing, said the defendants are held “behind a glass wall” during meetings with their lawyers, limiting confidential communication and potentially impeding their right to proper legal representation. Lawyers for the activists have repeatedly raised this issue with the court.
Farrell also visited Tatlow-Devally in prison and expressed concern about his treatment, describing the cell as roughly 5 by 2 meters and noting that he is confined for 23 hours each day with only an hour of monthly visitation. She urged the Irish government to address these concerns directly with Germany, emphasizing the need for officials to send representatives to observe the trial regularly until a verdict is reached.
German court officials maintain that the detention conditions are justified given the nature of the charges. Irish politicians now hope to press these issues during the upcoming visit of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to Ireland, seeking diplomatic engagement on the treatment and rights of the detainees.