Anti-war protesters claim they were abused on Swan Island intelligence facility
PROTESTERS who claim they were humiliatingly stripped and had their heads bagged at a secretive Victorian intelligence facility sue for damages.
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THREE anti-war protesters are suing the nation claiming they were assaulted and humiliated by unidentified soldiers after being apprehended at the secretive Swan Island intelligence facility.
Greg Rolles, Sam Quinlan and David Sprigg claim they swam to the island from Queenscliff along with a fourth man, Timothy Webb, on October 2, 2014, to protest against Australia’s military preparations for fighting ISIS in Iraq.
The island is used as a meeting and training ground run by the Australian Secret Intelligence Service where intelligence agents and some police are reportedly drilled on the use of weapons and explosives by members of the SAS.
According to separate writs filed in the County Court the protectors intended to engage in a nonviolent protest and after hanging and taking photos of an anti-war banner on buildings separated into two pairs before being caught by plain clothes defence force personnel.
Greg Rolles claims he was tackled to the ground by two unidentified soldiers who tightly cable tied his hands and legs and placed a hessian bag over his head, stood on his stomach and ripped his T-shirt and pulled it over his head.
Mr Rolles claims he was then dragged across the ground by his writs which were cable tied behind his back.
He claims the soldiers then began slapping him while saying: “Stop f..king around”; “Cut this sh.t out”; “How many f..king protesters are on the island” and “I’ll stick this f..king stick up your a..e”
Mr Rolles claims he was also choked and told he would have to be searched for weapons and one soldier knelt or stood on his left shoulder and cut or pulled his pants and underwear leaving his genitalia exposed.
Mr Quinlan, who was with Mr Rolles when caught, claims he was similarly treated by the same soldiers being told: “You’re endangering the families of the SAS, did you f..king think about that?” and “These c...s are going to jail.”
After being asked if he wanted to “go for a swim?”, Mr Quinlan says he was dragged across the ground towards the sea by the collar of his hooded top and T-shirt before also being told he was being searched for weapons before his pants were cut off leaving him naked from the waist down.
Mr Sprigg claims he was hit to the head, nose torso and back numerous times when caught by two other unidentified soldiers.
He claims his wrists were cable tied so tight his hands turned blue, had his head pushed into the ground and a thumb or finger pushed into his neck.
Mr Sprigg also claims he was told: “You’re f...ed” and “Just remember it’s the ADF that arrested you c..t” and had his pants and belt cut off while lying face down.
The trio claim they made no attempt to resist of flee, the soldiers offered no identification or authority for their arrest, assault and detention.
After about 15 minutes they were handed over to police.
The trio claim they were set upon without any opportunity to comply with nonviolent requests or commands and unlawfully detained by the soldiers whose actions they allege were malicious, intended to humiliate and injure their feelings and dignity, and grossly excessive using techniques applicable to special forces counter-terrorism operations.
Each claims they suffered injury and loss, including expenses for medical treatment, psychological treatment, and in the case of Mr Rolles, an emergency high school teacher, loss of income.
They are seeking unspecified aggravated and exemplary damages.
peter mickelburough@news.com.au
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