Tense standoff at dail - Joe Higgins and Many others dragged off the road

national | miscellaneous | news report Wednesday April 02, 2003 22:05 by roving reporter with broken finger

standoff at dail

1000 or more people began sitting down and linking arms after Police attempted to split their ranks in two so the TDs could be seen to drive out the front door. An old man who was attempting to get his homemade sign was jostled and manhandled after sitdown started in earnest - lots of shame shame to the gardai from seated 1000+

1/2 hour later vans containing Riot Police appeared 40 or so and they immediately began to attempt to clear the road for the cars to come out.

People remained sitting as people were picked off and dragged off one at a time - Joe higgins dragged roughly by arms and legs by 4/5 riotpolicemen - he was in fromt row beside IMC RR who now has a broken finger from being dragged off.

People were defiant and many returned to the front lines of the sit-down after being dragged off.

This is still going on though standing up linked arms blocades are now being used by the protesters.

lots of Regular gardai there too

2 Hospitalisations have been confirmed by people at the scene - ambulance did indeed arrive

Helicopters overhead

Messy standoff

Further reports asap

'Get out of the way or you are going to get hurt'

Quote from one of the Riot Police while involved in a dispute about police tactics and the fact that one of the people in his way was wheelchair bound

td's still inside - xcept for Joe obviously

haven't been able to confirm if other Political Parties Elected Reps are taking part in Blocade

It is dark now BTW here for those peeping in from the ether