A cross-party delegation of Irish politicians has urged the government in Dublin to send observers to Germany to monitor the trial of five pro-Palestinian activists known as the “Ulm 5.”

The delegation also called on Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin to raise concerns about the detention of Irish defendant Daniel Tatlow-Devally during his upcoming talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who is scheduled to visit Ireland next week.

The five activists are appearing before a high-security court in Stuttgart over an alleged attack on a facility owned by Israeli arms manufacturer Elbit Systems in the southern German city of Ulm.

The appeal followed a visit by the seven-member Irish delegation, which attended a hearing in Stuttgart on Wednesday.

Concerns Over Detention Conditions

Sinn Féin politician Mairéad Farrell said she was shocked by Tatlow-Devally’s detention conditions after visiting him in prison alongside two other members of the delegation.

According to Farrell, the Irish defendant spends 23 hours a day inside a cell measuring approximately five metres by two metres. She said the cell contains few personal items and that he is permitted only one hour-long visit each month.

Farrell described the restrictions as extremely harsh and disproportionate, particularly because the defendants are not accused of physically harming anyone. She urged Martin to discuss the conditions with Merz when the German chancellor visits Ireland on Tuesday.

Details of the Charges

German prosecutors allege that Tatlow-Devally was among five activists who entered an Elbit Systems property in Ulm in September 2025 while chanting pro-Palestinian slogans.

The group allegedly damaged equipment and smashed windows inside the facility, causing losses estimated by prosecutors at approximately €1 million, equivalent to about £850,000.

The activists later published videos online claiming responsibility for the action. They said their aim was to draw attention to Germany’s support for Israel and its role in the war in Gaza. Germany is Israel’s second-largest arms supplier after the United States.

The defendants have maintained their position throughout the proceedings. During a court appearance in May, Tatlow-Devally said the group acted because of urgent humanitarian concerns and hoped to temporarily disrupt Elbit’s deliveries to Israel.

Objections to the Trial Procedures

Farrell said German authorities prevented the Irish delegation from discussing details of the case with Tatlow-Devally during their prison visit, describing the restriction as unusual.

Members of the delegation also raised concerns about the arrangements inside the courtroom. The defendants are seated behind a glass barrier, which their lawyers say prevents them from communicating freely and confidentially with their legal teams.

Farrell said one defendant told the delegation that the restrictions left them unable to participate fully in the proceedings.

Lawyers representing the defendants—Berlin-based activists holding British, Irish, German and Spanish citizenship—have repeatedly challenged the use of the glass barrier. They argue that it interferes with their clients’ right to effective legal representation.

German Court Defends Continued Detention

The five activists face charges of trespassing, property damage and membership of a criminal organisation identified by prosecutors as Palestine Action Germany.

The criminal-organisation charge was brought under Section 129 of the German Criminal Code. It allows authorities to classify defendants as a potential threat to society and deny them bail, including after the standard six-month limit for pretrial detention has passed.

If convicted, the activists could face prison sentences of up to five years.

Court representatives have defended the detention conditions, arguing that they are justified by the seriousness of the charges.

Before the trial opened in April, Stuttgart’s Higher Regional Court ordered that all five defendants remain in pretrial detention. The court cited a continuing risk that they could flee and concluded that bail would not sufficiently reduce that risk.

Delegation Calls for Continued Monitoring

Farrell said it was essential for the Irish government to send representatives to attend the hearings regularly until a verdict is delivered.

She also called on Martin to raise the case during his meeting with Merz. Their talks are expected to address Ireland’s six-month presidency of the Council of the European Union, which began on July 1.

Farrell said the Irish prime minister should communicate concerns raised by Tatlow-Devally, his family and the delegation regarding his prison treatment and his ability to receive adequate legal representation.

The delegation included Richard Boyd Barrett and Ruth Coppinger of People Before Profit–Solidarity, Barry Ward of Fine Gael, Duncan Smith of the Labour Party, Social Democrats Senator Patricia Stephenson and Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan.

The case comes after a British court last month imposed lengthy prison sentences on four Palestine Action activists convicted of damaging drones and other equipment at an Elbit Systems factory in the United Kingdom. The court ruled that their offences had a “terrorist connection.”

Farrell said the Irish delegation intends to return to Germany before the Ulm 5 trial concludes, which is currently expected in January, and will continue monitoring the proceedings.