Charges over 'Anglo Avenger' cherry picker protest dropped

Joe McNamara had parked a small crane bearing anti-Anglo Irish Bank messages on Kildare Street in December 2010.

A DUBLIN COURT HAS struck out the charges brought against a protester who parked a cherry picker truck outside Leinster House.

The so-called ‘Anglo Avenger’ Joe McNamara, of Dun na Carraige, Blackrock, Co Galway, parked the small crane outside Government Buildings on Kildare Street in December 2010. The vehicle carried signs with messages such as “Anglo Toxic Bank”.

He then sat in the extended cage and played music.

McNamara was taken away from the scene by gardaí and subsequently charged with dangerous driving.

RTÉ.ie reports that McNamara’s solicitor, Cahir O’Higgins, told the court that McNamara regretted any inconvenience and waste of court and state resources. McNamara said to journalists gathered at Dublin District Court that there would be “no more protests”.

Dublin District Court had recently dismissed criminal damage and dangerous driving charges against McNamara relating to an incident in September 2010 in which he drove a cement mixer to the gates of Leinster House.