May Day protestors told: 'No march'

May Day protesters vowed today to campaign against plans to clamp down on demonstrations due to coincide with major EU enlargement ceremonies.

Anti-war protesters intending to stage a march and carnival in Dublin on May 1, held a meeting with gardaí today to discuss details of their plans.

The coalition, which includes Green Party MEP Patricia McKenna, expressed shock and frustration that their plans for a peaceful demonstration had been thwarted.

The Another Europe is Possible alliance had intended to march from the city centre to Phoenix Park where there would be music and a carnival to celebrate multi-culturalism.

But they were told today that the grounds would be closed off to the public for security reasons. The EU ceremonies will take place at Farmleigh House, within the 1,750-acre park.

Rory Hearne, May Day carnival organiser, claimed protesters had the right to express themselves and to put across their views as close as possible to where the EU leaders were meeting.

“We are very surprised today and we are going to appeal to the Assistant Commissioner to allow us the chance to hold a carnival in the park on the day,” he said.

“There’s no reason why peaceful protesters can’t have a carnival which is bringing up issues of war, racism and corporate greed in front of the leaders of 25 EU states. We should be able to hold our carnival in Phoenix Park. This isn’t finished yet.”

Ms McKenna said it was in everyone’s interests to ensure a peaceful protest.

“The hype raised over Mayday shows a huge amount of irresponsibility by the establishment in relation to sending out a message internationally that there is going to be trouble in Dublin,” she said.

“We have a duty to ensure that doesn’t happen. There is clearly a strategy to hope there will be trouble on Mayday so that there are no protests when George Bush arrives in June.”

She said the decision to close the whole of Phoenix park was unacceptable and had been made to try and isolate those who want to send out a signal to the EU leaders.

“That is disappointing,” she added. “We hold the EU presidency and it is in everyone’s interests to hold a peaceful protest. That’s all we want to do.”

Protesters claimed the hype surrounding May Day was being generated by gardaí in an attempt to intimidate potential demonstrators and warn them away.

Gardai and the army have been preparing for violent clashes and riots on May 1. All Garda leave has been cancelled and reports suggest around 4,000 officers will be on duty on the day.

Many will be armed with special riot gear and it is claimed water cannons will be used for crowd control if riots break out.

The plans have been slammed by protesters as “heavy-handed”.

Mick O’Reilly, a union official from the Transport and General Workers Union, said they had agreed to meet gardai because they wanted co-operate with them and ensure a peaceful protest.

“The decision to close the whole of Phoenix park on the day is a hugely disproportionate reaction and we are disappointed,” he said.

Up to 5,000 protesters are expected to take to the streets in the city on May 1.