Fergus Finlay: I know what a democratic protest looks like — and this wasn’t it

What was easily dismissed not so long ago as a few headbangers came dangerously close to tipping over the edge into really serious violence, writes Fergus Finlay

Protestors confront Gardai during an anti-lockdown protest in Dublin city centre.

I am becoming more and more intolerant of intolerance. As I watched the riot on Grafton Street on Saturday, led by people determined to try to goad the Gardaí into over-reaction, I was filled with disgust.

The thing was fomented on social media by groups with names like “antilockdownireland” and RiseUpEireann. In advance they posted banners with messages like “Freedom – no more lockdowns, our country is suffering, we matter”. Another one was all about “Stand for Freedom”. And, of course, they were all in the national colours of green white and orange.