The right to protest

Sir, – It would appear from recent mica and truckers’ protests that bringing Dublin and its surrounding roads to a near standstill is seen as an acceptable form of protest by a number of people in this country. I’m sure that when people complain about this, people’s “right to protest” will be trotted out as a defence.

But where does the right to protest begin and end? What if I’m worried about the habitat of some snails in west Kerry being endangered, can I bring Dublin to a standstill?

Is it not time for the Garda to act, and if they can’t for them to be empowered to do so? Surely in a democratic society the rights of the majority of citizens count for something. – Yours, etc,

BRIAN CULLEN,

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Rathfarnham,

Dublin 16.