Nobel Peace Prize winner Maireád Corrigan returned to Northern Ireland yesterday after she was injured by a plastic bullet in the Middle East.
Ms Corrigan was hurt during a confrontation between Israeli security forces and people protesting against the security barrier between Israel and land occupied by Palestinians close to Ramallah.
"We were involved in a peaceful protest against the huge Israeli wall that separates the Palestinian people from their land when Israeli soldiers started firing plastic bullets at us - something that never happened in 30 years of the Troubles in Northern Ireland," she said.
Ms Corrigan, one of the founders of the Peace People, who with Betty Williams was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1976, has been a long-standing campaigner for better rights and living conditions for Palestinians. The incident happened near Bilin on Friday.
Ms Corrigan, who was treated for her injuries in hospital, said she also suffered from gas inhalation from canisters fired by Israeli soldiers.
"I was told it was some form of nerve gas. I was totally overcome by the gas which gave me headaches and nosebleeds and left me feeling totally nauseous," she said.
Ms Corrigan added that she wanted an apology from the Israeli government.
