Masked protesters interrupt Bertie Ahern’s honorary doctorate conferral ceremony at DCU

Protesters interrupted a ceremony bestowing an honorary doctorate on former taoiseach Bertie Ahern in Dublin on Thursday.

As Mr Ahern stood to address his audience at Dublin City University’s Helix Theatre just before midday, three people wearing white masks stood up in the gallery.

One, reading aloud from a prepared statement, said he was speaking on behalf of the youth of Ireland and identified the protesters as members of the Connolly Youth Movement.

“We cannot be idle and we cannot let an event like this go ahead unchallenged,” he said.

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“We are opposed to the celebration,” he continued before being drowned out by boos from the audience that had begun once people realised what was taking place.

He accused Mr Ahern of being an “architect of the financial crisis” that had a negative impact on young people, including through emigration.

As the boos continued, one of the protesters shouted: “Bertie Ahern does not deserve any award.”

The interruption ended after about a minute when university staff removed the protesters from the auditorium.

Mr Ahern remained on stage throughout and did not react to the demonstration. Once the three had been removed, he received an extended standing ovation before carrying on with his speech.

He, together with Prof Monica McWilliams, were at DCU to be conferred with honorary doctorates for their respective roles in bringing about the Belfast Agreement.

In his address, DCU president Daire Keogh acknowledged the legitimacy of the protest and remarked on the importance of students demonstrating a difference of opinion.

Asked about the incident afterwards, Mr Ahern said having spent a great deal of time in educational establishments he always liked to see “students doing their bit”.

“I’m glad they’d nothing better to do this morning, so it was nice of them to come along and say hello to me.”

DCU said in a statement: “Dublin City University acknowledges the protest made by the Connolly Youth Movement during today’s honorary graduation ceremony. As a university, we recognisetheir right to express their views; debate and differing ideas are the lifeblood of academia and our democracy at large.”