One of the women arrested at a protest against Israeli attacks on Gaza at Leinster House was ordered to strip naked and subjected to "absolutely disgusting" treatment, the Dáil has heard.
Solidarity-People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett read from a letter he received, detailing what he said was the treatment one of the Mothers Against Genocide protesters was subjected to.
They were "arrested very, very violently in some cases" despite being on a peaceful protest, he said.
One woman wrote: "I was stripped completely naked" and was told she "would be forced violently if I didn't comply".
"After removing my underwear they looked inside my private areas and touched all my sensitive parts," Mr Boyd Barrett said, reading the letter from one of the women arrested.
His colleague Paul Murphy said that the treatment these women were subjected to is "absolutely horrific", noting that the woman who had written the letter was Palestinian.
She had been warned that she would be punished if she participated in another protest, he said.
In response, Taoiseach Micheál Martin promised to follow-up with the Minister for Justice on the steps that were taken, including strip searches.
Sinn Féin’s Ruairí Ó Murchú said that the "serious allegations" highlighted must be investigated.
Solidarity-People Before Profit TD Ruth Coppinger also condemned the actions of the gardaí, and said one garda had kicked a picture of a dead Palestinian infant.
Mr Martin said that on Monday protesters had blocked the entrance to Leinster House, which he added was unnecessary.
He also noted that gardaí had given a public order direction.
In a statement, An Garda Síochána said preliminary inquiries by local garda management found that any searches conducted were in line with the Treatment of Persons in Custody in Garda Síochána Stations Regulations (Criminal Justice Act, 1984).
They refuted any allegation that a cavity search took place.
