SF supporters scuffle with Gardaí during Dáil protest

A small number of Sinn Féin supporters have engaged in minor scuffles with Gardai during a protest outside Government Buildings in Dublin this morning.

The scuffles broke out while PSNI chief constable Hugh Orde was arriving to brief the Taoiseach about the latest developments in the so-called Stormontgate scandal.

Up to 20 republicans had mounted a protest against what they describe as "political policing" by the PSNI.

w ere protesting about political policing as the Chief Constable of the P-S-N-I, Hugh Orde, arrived for talks on security matters in the North.

Gardaí had to hold back some demonstrators who tried to breach security at the Taoiseach's office to get closer to Mr Orde's car.

Sinn Féin MEP Mary Lou McDonald says the protest was designed "to make it clear to Hugh Orde that he an d the British administration have very serious questions to answer around what's come to be known as Stormontgate".