Minor scuffles as 1,200 protest outside Dáil

ABOUT 1,200 people took part in a Right to Work protest outside Leinster House last night, which was marked by minor scuffles with gardaí before and after the main rally.

The protest was policed by a large force of gardaí on foot and on horseback and by the Garda helicopter, in contrast to the light policing seen at a similar march organised last week.

The first standoff between protesters and gardaí took place when a feeder march which had gathered at the Wolfe Tone statue on St Stephen’s Green tried to move on to the road. Gardaí on horseback and on foot tried to drive the group of about 250 people back on to the pavement.

After a few minutes, the marchers, mostly followers of the Republican group Éirígí and the Workers Solidarity Movement, succeeded in occupying the road. They protested briefly outside the offices of Anglo Irish Bank on St Stephen’s Green before marching to Molesworth Street where other protesters had gathered.

The gates of Leinster House, which some demonstrators tried to rush during last weeks protest, remained open while speakers addressed the rally and organisers called for peaceful protest.

However, the gates were closed at the end of the rally when most people marched off to the GPO but a smaller group surged towards Kildare Street and the Dáil.

A number of objects were hurled at gardaí, who linked arms and formed a semi-circle to hold back the protesters. This group, which included supporters of Éirígí and the 32 County Sovereignty Movement, then turned their backs to Leinster House in a symbolic protest before leaving.

Speakers at the rally called for the creation of a broad alliance to fight cutbacks and oust the Government, and also criticised the mainstream trade unions.

Unite trade union official Brendan Ogle said Ireland had been destroyed by a self-perpetuating elite of politicians, developers and bankers with no mandate. “This elite has stolen this nation and its wealth and left us in thrall to gombeen men,” he said.

Mr Ogle accused trade unions of making false promises and called for a “broad church” to throw out the “cabal” who had shamed Ireland.

Artist Robert Ballagh said a small group of very wealthy people had gambled recklessly in order to further enrich themselves. When this had gone wrong, the political establishment had put in place structures to bail them out. This was unjust, unfair and immoral.

Kieran Allen of the Socialist Workers’ Movement said the “Fianna Fáil collaborators” in the trade unions had to be got rid of. A further march is planned for next Tuesday.