Fine Gael Senator Barry Ward wrote to Garda Commissioner Drew Harris on Wednesday evening following a day of fraught protests around the Leinster House vicinity throughout the day.
The “credibility of An Garda Siochana will be substantially eroded” if action is not taken against the groups who staged protests outside Leinster House on Wednesday, a Fine Gael Senator has told the Garda Commissioner.
A number of politicians reported feeling intimidated throughout the day. Videos posted online showed several politicians, including Sinn Féin’s Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire and Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae being harassed while walking down the street with Garda escorts. Mr Healy-Rae also alleged that his American intern’s phone was stolen.
“Since the foundation of the State - through the Civil War and the Troubles - members of the Oireachtas have enjoyed a right to attend our national parliament. Mr Ward said that public representatives should “never be jostled, harassed or intimidated the way they were” on Wednesday. Mr Ward also told Commissioner Harris that he would be “grateful to hear” what steps the Gardaí were going to take to “protect democratic institutions”.
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