UCD students barricade minister into building

national | miscellaneous | news report Wednesday October 16, 2002 16:15 by OK - CFE

Today hundreds of students sat down to prevent the minister of education, Noel Dempsey, leaving the Vets building in UCD. Barricades were erected to prevent his car leaving

The protest organised by the Campaign for Free Education assembled at 12:30 and then proceeded to the Vets building where the minister for education, Noel Dempsey, was opening the building.

The hundredds of students sat down on all the doors and prevented access to the building. All people wishing to enter the building had to seek approval of the students by a vote.

At the sides of the building all exits for the ministers car were blocked by barricades errected by the students.

For 2 hours the minister was unable to leave the building. The college authorities eventually snook him out a fire exit.

Another feature of the protest was the presence of SU president, FF member, and supporter of fees, Aonghus Hourihane in the building, and not outside it! Aoghus Hourihane made himself into a hate figure by prancing in the front entrance in his suit. After the protest students went to the Student Cente to demand Hourihane's resignation.