Fourteen people who were arrested by gardai while attempting to enter the Burlington Hotel in Dublin, during a protest against privatisation which became violent, are due to appear in Dublin District Court this morning charged with public disorder.
The group was protesting against a Public-Private Partnership Summit that was taking place in the hotel.
Garda∅ secured the entrance as the group surrounded the hotel where delegates from around the world were meeting. Up to 30 garda∅, including several plainclothes members, were called to the scene along with the Garda helicopter and several Garda vans.
The rally, which had started off peacefully, was organised by a cluster of groups opposed to privatisation including the Socialist Workers' Party, students' groups and a busworkers' delegation.
Garda∅ were accused of using excessive force to disperse the crowd. They used batons on some of the protesters, several of whom were believed to be hurt in the incident.
"The march to the door was more high spirits than intimidating and then the batons came out," said one protester. "It was a peaceful protest and there were a lot of young kids there with their parents."
The protesters who were arrested where dispersed to several Garda stations after a group formed to march to Pearse Street station. One of the protesters, Ms Susan Fitzgerald, a member of the Socialist Workers' Party, added: "We're going to Pearse Street to demand their release and we'll stay as long as it takes."