Minister uses Michael Collins commemoration speech to slam violent protesters

The Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald is using her speech commemorating Michael Collins to hit out at violent protesters.

Ms Fitzgerald is giving the annual oration at Béal na mBláth today - the site in West Cork where General Collins was ambushed and assassinated 93 years ago during the Civil War.

Minister Fitzgerald said: "For Collins, disagreement was to be cherished, but interference with the people, their safety and their property was unacceptable."

She also claimed that "Fine Gael must never cease in challenging the propaganda that suggests violent protest is virtuous and effective".

It emerged earlier this month that more than 20 demonstrators will be charged over the Jobstown protest last year which left Tánaiste Joan Burton trapped in her car for more than two hours.