Minister in scuffle with student protestors in Galway

The Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs was involved in a scuffle with student protestors at NUI Galway last night.

Eamon O Cuiv was attending an event at the university to announce plans for a new engineering building.

The scuffle broke out when a group of students protesting against the re-introduction of college fees attempted to block the minister and his secretary from entering the building.

Gardai were called to the scene, but no arrests were made.

Mr O Cuiv defended his actions, saying he restrained a student protestor to protect his assistant and did not lash out at anybody.