Burton makes statement to gardaí about protest
The Labour leader was struck by a water balloon on the back of the neck during the disturbances in Jobstown, West Dublin.
Ms Burton met the gardaí at their request for 45 minutes. She gave details of the incident as she praised the behaviour of gardaí who she said were subjected to highly sexualised and homophobic taunts by protesters during the two-and-a-half hour stand-off.
The comments came as Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald called on Ms Burton to join her in condemning the “extremely heavy-handed and rough” treatment of protestors by some gardaí.
Ms Burton said anyone with complaints should go to the Garda Ombudsman Commission.
“I got a bad bang on the back of my neck. It’s a bit stiff but it’s OK,” Ms Burton told Newstalk.
“I was concerned that if the doors were opened as to what would happen next because people were drumming on the roof. They were very animated — it was very tough on the guards. The one thing I’m really upset by about the protestors is their language. It’s heavily loaded with sexual imagery against women, and indeed against gay people, and the taunts to gardaí.”
The Tánaiste said female gardaí had been subjected to “sexed-up” and “virulent” language from protestors, while male officers suffered homophobic abuse.
Later, in heated Dáil clashes, Ms McDonald condemned the actions of protestors, adding: “I equally disassociate myself from the behaviour of a small number of members of the Garda Síochána who have been extremely heavy- handed and rough with protestors. Protestors have a perfect right to be treated lawfully, and respectfully and not to be flung against a bollard.”
Meanwhile, Ms Burton was critical of the role of Anti-Austerity TD Paul Murphy at Jobstown.
“Deputy Murphy was just right at the back of the car,” she said. “While all this was going on he had a megaphone saying ‘peaceful protest’. To be honest with you it was more like something out of a sitcom.
“If Deputy Murphy was taken to a location where people were beating on whatever he was in, whether it was a room or a vehicle, and there were a couple of people like the gardaí being screamed and shouted at, I think he would be the first person to come out to complain that in some way or other being attacked.”
