13 arrests amid protests at Leinster House as TDs escorted out by gardaí
Protesters took mock gallows and photographs of high-profile politicians to a demonstration outside Leinster House on Wednesday Picture: Gareth Chaney / Collins
TDs and staff were held up in cars for over an hour before being allowed to leave Leinster House on Wednesday as protesters barricaded the back entrance.
A convoy of 16 cars containing several TDs wishing to leave, including Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, was formed but was left waiting for more than an hour until it was safe to do so.
Those standing in the car park were asked to go indoors in case protesters breached the gates.
Shortly before 5.45pm, several gardaí lined up in front of the convoy before going onto the street to get in front of the gate which was being blocked by protestors.
Gardaí put traffic restrictions in place on Merrion Street in order to facilitate the exit of TDs at the entrance on Merrion Square.
With the assistance of the Public Order Unit, protestors were moved aside as the cars left Leinster House.
Several protestors were seen running alongside the cars as they exited while others chanted: “You’ll never beat the Irish”.
The protestors followed the cars a short distance with the gallows as they drove off.
Earlier, politicians, journalists and staff were advised not to leave Leinster House following the protests on the first day of the Dáil session.
Protesters took mock gallows and photographs of high-profile politicians to a demonstration outside Leinster House on Wednesday.
The gallows, which feature an effigy of a man hanging from a noose, was adorned with portraits of politicians including Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald.
Images of Enterprise Minister Simon Coveney, Education Minister Norma Foley and Children's Minister Roderic O’Gorman also accompanied the display.
Depictions of opposition TDs including Eoin Ó Broin from Sinn Féin and Solidarity-People Before Profit deputies Paul Murphy and Bríd Smith also feature.
It is understood the back entrance of Leinster House, by Merrion Square, was closed off due to a gathering of protestors at the gates of the parliament.
Uniformed gardaí were forced to move to the rear of the building to police a second gathering of protestors.
People are currently permitted to leave outside the Kildare Street entrance of Leinster House, where barriers have been in place since Tuesday.
Alongside politicians, Oireachtas committee witnesses are being asked to remain within Leinster House.
It is believed bottles of urine were thrown at gardaí by protestors, with Oireachtas staff members having witnessed the incident.
Multiple TD expressed their concern, saying the protests could become violent. One TD described the situation as “dangerous”.
In a statement on Wednesday evening, gardaí said officers at Pearse Street put in place a policing operation at Leinster House "to facilitate the resumption of the 33rd Dáil at Government Buildings".
"On a number of occasions, gardaí were required to intervene during public order incidents which occurred on Molesworth Street, Kildare Street and Merrion Street," a spokesperson said.
In total, 13 arrests were made in connection with these incidents.
"A senior investigating officer has been appointed, overseeing an investigation team based at Pearse Street, to coordinate and investigate all of the circumstances regarding these incidents and any other matters which may be identified as necessary for investigation which occurred around Government Buildings," the spokesperson added.
For workers, some of whom had to climb over barricades due to a faulty barricade gate, it was inconvenient but for local businesses, it was a lack of sales.
One café owner who was taking orders across the barricade said she couldn’t speak about it in detail or she “would rant”.
“It’s impacting my business big time and if I started on a rant I wouldn’t stop,” she said. "Half my turnover is affected. It [protests] happens every year for the last 10 years."
Green Party leader Eamon Ryan has strongly condemned protests outside Leinster House warning of "mad, crazy conspiracy" that is based on disinformation and fake news.
Speaking in New York, Mr Ryan said: "I think those sorts of protests are a direct attack on the Irish Constitution, on the Republic, and on the idea that we're all equal. We're all actually sovereign in our country. How dare they, is what I'd say."
He added: "We have to careful in a world where there's a lot of mad crazy conspiracy and polarising, divisive hate speech and disinformation and fake news.
"I think that fosters that type of approach, that sees people as the enemy not with the people. We live in a democratic constitutional Republic. I'm proud of our Constitution and to be able to serve in one of the offices set out in it."
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