A mass rally to protest at the proposed introduction of antisocial behaviour orders (Asbos) and increased Garda powers will be held in Dublin tomorrow.
Groups such as the Union of Students in Ireland, the Irish Council for Civil Liberties and the Green Party urged young people to attend the rally to show their opposition to the proposed legislation.
Rory Hearne of USI said Asbos were being used as a political tool and a smokescreen to divert attention away from the root causes of antisocial behaviour. This behaviour was being caused by "the huge underfunding that exists in social services like youth clubs, like public swimming pools that don't exist and the lack of non-alcoholic venues for young people".
Frank McBrearty jnr, who was falsely accused of the murder of Richie Barron in Donegal in 1996, said gardaí were already abusing the "deeply flawed" public order legislation and the same thing would happen with Asbos.
He said a garda "with a chip on his shoulder" could serve Asbos on people whenever he felt like it.
Aisling Reidy, director of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, said Asbos would "undermine very fundamental and basic human rights and civil liberties which have long been treasured and now just simply are going to be dismissed".
Ciarán Cuffe of the Green Party said he had not felt a "groundswell" of support for Asbos from his constituents. Instead they were looking for more gardaí on the ground.
The march will start at 2.30pm at Parnell Square and continue to the Central Bank for a street party.
