Sinn Fein & SWSS Disciplined Over Protest
dublin |
anti-capitalism |
news report 
Tuesday February 10, 2004 17:31
by Jon Swift
The SF and Socialist Worker Student Societies have been disciplined over their protest against Bertie Ahern.
The SF and Socialist Worker Student Societies have been disciplined over their protest against Bertie Ahern. This protest took place when Bertie addressed the Historical Society on 28 January. Rory Hearne of SWSS and Ciaran Doherty of SF were called before the dreaded Junior Dean Brendan Tangey. Tangey stated to Trinity News " the relevant parties did not aplly for permission to hold a protest or use a loudhailer".
College regulations rquire two weeks advance notice before holding any event including protests! While TCD Labour fully supported and participated in the protest they so far have not been dragged before his Lordship Tangey. This may be because Labour were not on the leaflet calling the event. Ciaran Doherty told TN: "SF & SWSS produced a leaflet before Labour became involved".
The purpose of the protest was to highlight cutbacks in the third level education sector. However the SWSS came under criticism for turning what was agreed as an anti cutbacks protest into an anti war demo.
Rory Hearn of SWSS caleed the SUs failure to miunt a demonstration : "a disgrace". According to Trinity News Rory Hearn was seen to lunge at the Taoiseach before being restrained by Gardai. In a joint letter TCD SF, LP and SWSS have condemned the Gardai for assaulting peaceful protesters. According to the letter: "The Iron Gate used to close off the Nassau Street entrance to College at night was used as a battering ram to drive protesters back".
There are no reports of any of the other political groups in the College supporting this protest.
Comments (7 of 7)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7Oh boy some students are so self absorbed they don't realise there is life outside the goldfish bowl
given the mention of TCD news and the fact that Rory Hearne is a student there. But the general point stands: if this report is being written with the intention of being read by anyone other than people that already know about it then some basic information like:
1. what college
2. who is the SWSS
3. what is "Trinity News"
etc would be nice.
However the article did mention TCD, this in conjunction with "Trinity" would have given the game away to most readers. The SWSS are given their full title in the first sentence. While I have commented, this is my first attempt at an article on this august site. I do not want to seem to be a Yahoo so I promise to be more careful in future.
Where was the great Shane and his fellow rottweillers? Dont say they have missed another protest. I thought they would be more vigilant after the Ni Chonnail debacle. The SPuppy Master will give Shane a stern talking to.
I will bet some anarchists took part in the protest even if they were non aligned ones.
"College regulations rquire two weeks advance notice before holding any event including protests!"
Surely this is going against democracy & freedom??
Sounds like this deserves another protest! : )
It doesn't really say how these groups are disciplined. Did they get a fine? Did they get their budget dropped? Did they loose the right to books rooms in Trinity?
What happened to them other than a meeting with the "Dean"?
A protest that doesn't get its permission slip or whatever gets a "nominal fine and (has to send) a letter of apology from the offending parties," a quote from the Trinity News.
Rory Hearne also says it was a last minute protest and only done cos the Student Union did nothing.
The SU gave the taoiseach a petition with 1000 signatures, which i'm sure sent him home crying and planning his retirement from dirty politics. I was trying to be objective, but i think the SU have been awfully quiet about cutbacks and stuff this year, and i look forward to a new load of sabbatical officers.
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