- Joined
- Jun 23, 2015
Well shit, there was anti lockdown protest in Dublin today.
shit got serious with some fucker fired a rocket against the garda, nearly hit him in the head.
shit got serious with some fucker fired a rocket against the garda, nearly hit him in the head.
More than 20 arrests following clashes at Dublin anti-lockdown protest
Taoiseach condemns ‘thuggish behaviour’ at St Stephen’s Green demonstration attended by thousands
about 5 hours ago Updated: about a minute ago
Ronan McGreevy
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Hundreds attend an anti-lockdown protest outside St Stephen’s Green in Dublin on Saturday. Video: Ronan McGreevy
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More than 20 people were arrested after anti-lockdown protesters clashed with gardaí in Dublin on Saturday.
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris confirmed the arrests on the RTÉ Six One news.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin condemned the demonstration “which posed an unacceptable risk to both the public and gardaí”.
Hundreds of people gathered in the early afternoon outside St Stephen’s Green, which the Office of Public Works were instructed to close by gardaí. The protests against Covid-19 restrictions had been scheduled to start at 2pm but there was a large crowd gathered long before that.
Gardaí and protesters outside St Stephen’s Green in Dublin on Saturday. Photograph: Ronan McGreevy
Gardaí had clearly planned for keeping the crowd contained. Barriers kept the crowd of about 300 corralled into the Grafton Street area. After a short time the crowd started to push against the barriers and the phalanx of gardaí keeping them back started to thicken.
There were plenty of Irish Republic and Tricolour flags on display. National Party volunteers handed out fliers.
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Most of the protesters were not wearing masks. One wore a Tricolour mask with the word “my country” on it. “He’s not standing against the people of this country,” one protester told a Garda gesturing to the man with the Tricolour mask.
“You’re a f**king scumbag. This is our country not yours,” another protester shouted at gardaí.
Then one of the protesters approached the front and fired a firecracker straight at gardaí who ducked.
Gardaí address protesters during an anti-lockdown demonstration in Dublin city centre. Photograph: Damian Eagers/PA Wire
After a stand-off lasting about 20 minutes the crowds made their way to the GPO in O’Connell Street where traffic was stopped for much of the afternoon.
The Luas green line was stopped completely for a time before services resumed. Services between St Stephen’s Green and O’Connell Street remain unavailable.
A woman stood outside the portico of the GPO and played a recording of the Proclamation to the crowd.
In a statement on Saturday evening, Mr Martin said: “The large gathering, in the face of ongoing Covid-19 restrictions, showed a complete lack of respect to the people who have made huge sacrifices during this pandemic.
“Nor can we tolerate the thuggish behaviour or attacks on gardaí, who have the public’s utmost respect as they continue to protect and serve our society in difficult circumstances.
“There can be no justification for the march or the violence that unfolded, and I pay tribute to members of An Garda Síochána who moved quickly to make arrests and restore order.
Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris criticised the actions of the protesters describing it as “pure thuggery”.It’s not a “protest”. “It’s an attack on our national effort. The abuse directed at the gardaí is sickening & shameful,” he tweeted.
