'Reclaim the Streets' rally passes without incident

Up to 1,000 Reclaim the Streets protesters converged on central Dublin today for a rally. The event passed off peacefully unlike last year which resulted in 24 arrests and allegations of Garda brutality.

Several hundred protestors converged on the International Financial Services Centre after an initial rally on Parnell St broke up without incident. A group later moved on to Amiens St where they blocked the road.

Around 40 gardai monitored the protest.

Between 500 and 1,000 people gathered on Parnell St in Dublin for the "street party", which got underway after 2.30 p.m. today.

You never know how many people will come to a party. Reclaim the Streets organiser, Mr James McDonald

A Garda spokesperson declined to say how many officers were policing this afternoon's protest.

Last year, the event turned into a major confrontation between demonstrators and gardaí, with violent scenes, 24 arrests and allegations of Garda brutality.

Seven gardaí were charged in connection with the disturbances and their cases are to be heard next month.

The organisers refused to disclose to the Garda details of this year's event. They left an email address on their flyers and posters advertising the party which the authorities could respond "if they want".

It is understood however, that the Garda did not take up the invitation.

Speaking on RTE radio this lunchtime one of the organisers, Mr James McDonald, said he had no idea how many people would attend the protest, which aims to close an unspecified city street to traffic for the afternoon.

"You never know how many people will come to a party," he said. "But we have sent out a lot of invitations."

He defended the group's decision not to tell the garda of their plans and expressed his hope the that gardai policing the party would be on their "best behaviour".

"We don't feel the need to tell the gardai where we are going. Why should we?" he said.

The Critical Mass cyclists group have already staged a protest made up of more than 50 cyclists. They cycled slowly from the Gardens of Remembrance through the city centre shortly after 2.00 p.m.