Pro-Palestine demonstrators staged protests inside the BBC building in Belfast and RTÉ headquarters in Dublin, challenging the media’s portrayal of the Gaza conflict. Both incidents were quickly resolved by police with no reported damage or offences.
Pro-Palestine protesters staged demonstrations at two prominent media locations in Ireland on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, entering the BBC building in Belfast and the RTÉ campus in Dublin.
In Belfast city centre, a group of protesters carrying Palestinian flags gained access to a BBC studio located on Great Victoria Street at approximately 11am. The building was briefly placed into lockdown as police officers from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) responded to the incident. Officers engaged with the crowd, who subsequently left the premises and resumed their protest outside the building. The PSNI confirmed, “No damage was caused and the protesters have since moved on from this area.” A BBC spokesperson underlined the organisation’s commitment to the safety and security of its staff and facilities, stating, “Unauthorised access is wrong and can create risks for everyone involved.”
Shortly after midday on the same day, a small group of pro-Palestine demonstrators entered the reception area of RTÉ’s Donnybrook campus in Dublin 4. Gardaí were called to the scene and facilitated the removal of the protesters. A Garda spokesperson reported, “Gardaí attended at a public gathering at a premises in Donnybrook, Dublin 4 this afternoon, Tuesday April 22 2025. This gathering has now dispersed. No offences disclosed.” RTÉ declined to comment on security-related matters.
The protests at both media outlets were motivated by grievances concerning the coverage of the conflict in Gaza, with demonstrators expressing criticism over the portrayal of Israel’s war efforts. The events highlight ongoing tensions surrounding media representation of international conflicts and the response of security forces to unauthorised protests within media premises.
Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative reports an event that occurred on April 22, 2025, one day prior to the current date, indicating the content is very recent and up to date with no signs of recycled or outdated information.
Quotes check
Score:
9
Notes:
Direct quotes from police and spokespersons are included with specific attributions (PSNI, Gardaí, BBC spokesperson). These statements are likely from official communications contemporaneous to the events. No earlier references were found, suggesting original reporting or immediate official statements.
Source reliability
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative originates from the Irish Mirror, a known Irish news outlet. While it is a mainstream publication, it is considered a tabloid and less authoritative than major international agencies; however, its reporting of local events and direct citations from official sources (police, Gardaí, BBC) add to its credibility.
Plausability check
Score:
10
Notes:
The events described—protests at media premises related to Gaza conflict coverage—are plausible and consistent with known forms of political protest. References to official police and Gardaí responses further support the plausibility. No extraordinary claims lacking verification are present.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative details current events from April 22, 2025, with direct official quotes and credible attributions. The timing of the events and the presence of authoritative quotes ensure freshness and reliability. The story is plausible, well corroborated by law enforcement and media representatives, and there is no evidence of outdated or recycled content.
