A DEMONSTRATOR who blocked the car of former minister Mary Hanafin and shouted “democracy now” during an EU-IMF bailout protest has been fined €150.
Raymond Walker (42) from Derry but living at Sherrard Street Lower, Dublin, was arrested on Merrion Street, outside Government Buildings, on November 21st when he stood in front of the car.
He was charged under the Public Order Act with obstructing Garda Jennifer Keyes, interfering with the passage of a vehicle and engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour.
He pleaded not guilty at Dublin District Court yesterday.
In evidence, Walker told his solicitor Patrick McGonagle that the car carrying Ms Hanafin stopped at Government Buildings gates and was surrounded by the media.
“There was a lot of people around the car, it took up most of the pavement, some pedestrians tried to go on the road. I was going to walk around between the gates and the car,” he said. “I put my hands in the air and shouted as loudly as I could ‘democracy now’.”
Ms Hanafin smiled at him at first “but did not speak”, Walker said. About a minute and a half later, he moved on when Garda Keyes spoke to him.
He said Ms Hanafin’s car was stationary when he stepped in front of it and he did not believe he had caused an obstruction as there were members of the media standing behind him.
Judge Brendan Toale said video evidence showed Walker was the only person in front of the car and he convicted him for interfering with the free passage of the vehicle.
Judge Toale fined Walker €150, to be paid within a month or he will be jailed for five days. Charges of breach of the peace and obstructing the garda were dismissed.