Fingal councillors ‘blockaded’ by anti-water charges protesters

A blockade by a group of anti-water charges protesters of a meeting of Fingal County Council tonight has ended.

When councillors concluded their meeting at 8pm at the local authority’s main hall in Swords, approximately 30 protesters had blocked off the exit to the car park. The blockade lasted until approximately 9.30pm.

Fine Gael councillor Keith Redmond said the protesters had stood outside and “shouted through megaphones” for the duration of the meeting.

He said the protesters were directing their comments towards an Independent councillor who tabled a motion calling on the council to condemn violence against Irish Water workers.

“In actual fact, he supports the abolition of water charges, but he wanted the council to condemn the violence against workers who were just doing their job,” said Cllr Redmond.

“As a result, this mob turned up and they obviously singled him out because of that motion. After the meeting, they made their way to the Fingal County Council car park and blockaded it, preventing all the councillors and staff leaving.”

He also said a councillor from the Socialist Party liaised with protesters and indicated which individuals were councillors and which were staff members so the former could be held and the latter released.

“They wanted to know who the Labour councillors were, shouting who the councillor who put forward the motion was, this kind of singling out and intimidation is the very thing the motion was directed at. It’s ironic that as a result he has now become a target himself.

“On the day Paul Murphy is arrested, we have other democratically elected representatives being blockaded and prevented from going about their business as well. It’s just another example of a very sinister turn from a certain element of Irish Water protests.”

Sinn Fein councillor Philip Lynam said it was a “peaceful protest”.

“When we were in the chamber, we could hear the chanting outside and it seemed to be a good spirited protest,” he said. “The business of the council finished at 8pm. We came outside and the protesters were outside the car park.

“They were peacefully protesting by walking up and across the car park entrance. They were allowing the workers of the council to leave. There was a Garda presence there. There were no angry scenes or violence.”

Anti Austerity Alliance councillor Matt Waine said approximately 25-30 people took part in the protest, which he described as “very peaceful”.

“I left the chamber, went over to the car park, and there was a protest there,” he said. “Essentially there was a very peaceful white line picket with people walking up and down with placards and banners. There was some chanting also and councillors were delayed from leaving the car park.”

Labour Party councillor Brian Mc Donagh said the protest was “utterly pointless”.

“They blocked council staff and councillors into the car park,” he said. “It was a completely and utterly pointless exercise because the council has no influence over it. Staff who had worked a full day were stuck there until 10pm. People have worked a long day. It was a baffling and irritating protest.”