Students protest against Garda actions

MORE than 350 students last night took part in a peaceful protest in Dublin against what they saw as Garda brutality during last week’s march to oppose third level fees.

In an event organised by two groups “free education for everyone” and “students in solidarity”, the students gathered beside the Wolfe Tone statue in St Stephen’s Green at 6pm before marching for 40 minutes along a route through Dawson Street and stopping at Pearse Street Garda station.

There was a light garda presence during the protest.

Among those who addressed the crowd was “free education for everyone activist” Donal Fallon who, at the start of the event, asked those present to ensure the protest remained peaceful.

“Never again are we going to be batoned off our own streets,” he said. “An injury to one of us is an injury to all.”

One girl who identified herself as Vanessa told how she had been knocked unconscious during last week’s march.

The event finished and the crowd dispersed at 7.20pm.

So far, the Garda Ombudsman Commission has received almost 30 complaints about the behaviour of gardaí following last week’s protest which was organised by the Union of Students in Ireland in which some 25,000 people participated.

A number of students were injured in the clashes, which were sparked by a breakaway protest outside the Department of Finance building on Merrion Row, near St Stephen’s Green.

The commission has said the complaints went across a range of allegations about garda conduct and additional information might be required before a decision is made as to their admissibility.

Three people were arrested and a garda was also treated for a suspected broken nose following the incident, which led to some shops and restaurants closing their doors for a time.