Ciara Phelan: Hatred that spilled over outside the Dáil has been brewing for some time

A national conversation is needed about how to push back on this group to show we’re serious that hate won’t be tolerated

Members of the public protest outside Leinster House on Wednesday. Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins Photos

The aftermath of the protests was like a bad hangover. Walking around Leinster House less than 24 hours after it had been on lockdown, politicians, staff, and journalists asked one another how they had felt about the night before.

Disgusted, scared, shocked, sad, and annoyed were some of the words used to describe their response to the actions of a small minority, which had left hard-working people in despair.