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Sinn Féin activists breach gates of Government Buildings

Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh pictured protesting outside government buildings.
Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh pictured protesting outside government buildings.
Image: YouTube/BBC News

A GROUP OF ABOUT 100 protestors – many of them carrying Sinn Féin banners – forced their way through the gates of government buildings earlier this afternoon, following a protest against the government’s handling of the economy.

The group – led by Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh - were calling for the immediate resignation of the Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, following yesterday’s announcement that Ireland had been forced to seek emergency bailout funding from the European Union and International Monetary Fund.

Some members of the group were captured on film by BBC News breaking through the Merrion Street gates of the complex – which houses the Department of the Taoiseach – amid Garda resistance.

The video also appears to show Ó Snodaigh being attacked by a Garda after falling to the ground.



A later video posted by Paraic Gallagher of Newstalk (warning: strong language) showed the scene being cleared, though a significant Sinn Féin protest remained active.

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Comments (7 Comments)

  • MJ 22/11/10 #
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    It’s unbelievable really. We knew this would eventually happen – even wondered how long it would take – but now these horrible moments are here I wish it wasn’t so. It makes me sad.

    I just hope we can gather together and move on as a nation, let’s just try and get ourselves out of this. We can’t trust the establishment to do it for us. Come on Ireland!

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  • Report this comment

    Good comment, MJ.

    It looks like things might be about to get very ugly. We will have the opportunity to make our anger count in the most effective way in January – storming the gates of the Dáil now is not achieving anything … except the impression that we’re a country out of control.

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  • Can Sipahi 22/11/10 #
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    Hi Ireland and its beautiful people.,
    Don’t stop, you must keep protesting, whole world is watching you.
    Don’t accept this bailout, If you accept this bailout, austerity measures will come and all Irish people has to suffer for 20+ years, save Ireland, let the European big banks and Fed eat their losses..let them accept their losses and don’t pay anything to these banking cartel.
    Go Ireland
    JOHN- An Irish fan form Turkey who lives in US , and lucky enough to see and live in this Beautiful country

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  • Steve Phelan 22/11/10 #
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    agreed jennifer – pointless demo which will change nothing but the Irish Times was bemoaning the lack of street activity on it’s front page this morning – funny that the IT spurned SF into action possibly ;)

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  • Lorcan Myles 22/11/10 #
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    Anybody who thinks that things will be different following the election will be sorely disappointed.

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  • Mick O'Kane 22/11/10 #
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    We worshipped at the church of Fianna Fail. Everyone bought into the boom times. The government are the scape goat but you have only yourself to blame if you haven’t looked after your finances, job, pension, mortgage. Living here is not like living in Haiti. We still have potetential. Those struggling are those who would always struggle in good or bad times. Ireland is still a good country to live in. Over hyped media scare mongering mostly.

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  • John Donovan 23/11/10 #
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    roll on saterday i hope that copper is their ,ill bring my sping bation see how he likes it

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