GARDAÍ WERE yesterday continuing to investigate the disturbance at the gates of Leinster House in Dublin on Tuesday night in which a number of people received minor injuries.
The incident took place after some 800 protesters marched to the Dáil from the Garden of Remembrance on Parnell Square in opposition to the Government’s plans to inject billions of euro into the country’s banks.
A number of people involved in the protest attempted to gain access to the Leinster House complex but were prevented from doing so by gardaí.
At least five protesters incurred minor head injuries as a result of the clashes with gardaí, according to organisers, while a Garda spokesman said one member of the force sustained minor injuries. There were no arrests.
It was suggested yesterday by some of those present that the trouble began after a small number of protesters tried to enter the complex through a gate which had been left open and was unattended by gardaí.
An Oireachtas spokeswoman said it was standard practice to have one side of the gate open. A Garda spokesman said it would be inappropriate to comment.
A spokesman for the Right to Work Campaign, James O’Toole, said his organisation was behind the march. He said another rally would be held at the Dáil next Tuesday at 7.30pm.
“I think if anything the protest next week will be bigger,” he said. Mr O’Toole said the trade union Unite, Sinn Féin and People Before Profit Alliance councillors were among those sponsoring the campaign.
He said republican socialist organisation Éirigí was not involved but was welcome at the march. “Individual Labour Party people were present but Labour is not a sponsor . . . ,” he said.
A Garda spokesman declined to say if security at Leinster House would be increased in advance of next Tuesday. “We’d never discuss security detail at sensitive locations like that one.”
A spokesman for the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission said no complaints had been received and the commission was monitoring the situation with a view to deciding whether an investigation was warranted.