Trinity drops disciplinary action against students over demonstrations

Cillian Sherlock, PA

Trinity College Dublin has dropped disciplinary proceedings against students who participated in a series of protests, but a €200,000 fine over the demonstrations remains.

The university had invoiced its students’ union for €214,285 after a series of demonstrations over fees and rent, as well as pro-Palestinian solidarity protests.

Trinity claimed the fee was related to losses accrued due to blocking access to the Book of Kells.

Separately, it also initiated disciplinary action against a group of student leaders.

Students at the university formed an encampment on the campus in protest against the fine, as well as Trinity’s ties to Israel.

Following engagement with the protesters, the college said it would complete a divestment from investments in Israeli companies that have activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and appear on the UN Blacklist in this regard. This process is expected to be completed by June.

The students dismantled the camp after Trinity said it would “endeavour” to divest from other Israeli companies, noting that its supplier list includes just one Israeli company which will remain until March 2025 for contractual reasons.

On Friday, students who had been called for disciplinary hearings were informed the action had been dropped.

All disciplinary action has been dropped against myself, @TCDSU_President and the @PWO_TCD president by Trinity.

A huge win in protecting the right to protest on our campuses. Trinity cannot intimidate students from taking action against a college that doesn’t work for them✊❤️ pic.twitter.com/vBdigtO49G

— Jenny 🇵🇸 (@jennymaguir) May 17, 2024

However, the invoice to the students’ union remains outstanding.

TCDSU said the university wanted to engage in negotiations with the union about the fine. However, the union rejected this and has instructed Trinity that it does not intend to pay the fine.

It said that such a process “would have trapped the TCDSU in a permanently institutionalised form of engagement” in which the union would be liable for future protests.