Gay marriage activists protest at limitations of legislation

GAY marriage activists fired a shot across the bows of the Government yesterday with a demonstration warning the imminent publication of Civil Partnerships legislation does not go far enough.

Will St Ledger, from Tipperary, climbed the gates of Leinster House and refused to come down for three hours. He eventually climbed off the gate post and was arrested by gardaí who arrested him for trespassing.

Earlier fellow demonstrator Lisa Connell had chained herself to the gates on Kildare Street until she was cut away. Both were members of the newly formed Equals organisation, which has been set up as a non-violent direct action group demanding marriage equality. Their demonstration coincided with the announcement in the Dáil that legislation to allow Civil Partnerships for gay couples will be published within days.