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Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton (file photo) Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland
Joan Burton

Burton says hecklers gave Dundalk a 'bad image' following shopping centre protest

The Minister for Social Protection was heckled as she attempted to deliver a speech in Dundalk , Co Louth yesterday.

THE MINISTER FOR Social Protection, Joan Burton, was forced to cut short her trip to a shopping centre in Co Louth yesterday due to constant heckling.

Burton had arrived at the Marshes Shopping Centre in Dundalk to launch a JobsPlus scheme but, as the below video shows, was heckled throughout, with chants of “Shame on you” continuing until she left the building.

Others were also holding placards which made reference to recent child benefit cuts.

Speaking after the event, she said that she knew Dundalk a lot longer than some of the hecklers, adding:

My only concern would be that they [the protesters] would give Dundalk, which is full of the most hard-working  people and businesses, that they would really give Dundalk a bad image.
We’re here today to provide employment for people and I’m afraid that the people shouting and roaring inside don’t seem to care about their fellow Dundalk citizens.
For people to sully the reputation of Dundalk , I think it’s very short sighted and I think they are short changing their fellow citizens in Dundalk.

Warning: There is strong language at the end of this video.

(Paul Farrell/YouTube)

Read: Only 61pc of families to receive full child benefit payments under new proposals >

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