Fans pledge unconditional support for Jackson
The 45-year-old American superstar has denied charges of child molestation, which carry a maximum 20-years' jail sentence on conviction.
Less than a half-dozen of Jackson's Dublin fans got quizzical glances from passers-by wondering why the event outside the GPO merited the attendance of television crews and other media.
The serious-minded fans held up placards proclaiming 'Michael Is Innocent' and 'You're Not Alone' as a small stereo on near-maximum volume pounded out a selection of songs that helped make their hero a global star.
"He is innocent," said Angela Keogh, 25, a devoted fan since she was five the same age as her hero when he began his meteoric musical career.
"Anybody who thinks he's guilty is crazy. He is innocent, 100%. He's just not that type of person; how can anyone think he would harm a child? He's not like that he's kind to children, he doesn't abuse them," she said.
Angela, from Blanchardstown, was protesting at what she regards as a media-fuelled attack on their No 1 hero. "There is no evidence, the people who accuse him are just doing it for money," she said.
"I'm here to show support for him," said Tom Sheerin, 20, a Jackson fan for 12 years.
"He will be proven innocent. It's all for money, it's extortion like the last time.
"The family that is doing it to him now have sued two others for the same thing. Michael Jackson is an easy target," he said.
Dervala O'Sullivan, 26, said she was present to support Jackson and to defend his good name. A member of the singer's Irish fan club, she comes from Tipperary. "I will always believe in him," she said.
Two brothers from Ballsbridge, Dublin, who stopped in O'Connell Street to see what the fuss was about, expressed themselves to be anything but fans of Jackson. "He's a funny cookie and you couldn't really trust him with children," said 23-year-old Fergus Whitney.
John Whitney, 22, said: "It's a dodgy affair. He could be innocent but he was brought up for this before. But I think he will be proven guilty this time. He has admitted that he has had children in his bed, so..."
