Morons

The scenes in Dublin on Saturday were a disgrace.It may not have been the wisest move to plan a Unionist march down O'Connell St. but in a free democratic society people have the right to march, protest and have their voice heard.Many of those who planned to march were relatives of victims of IRA violence.Others , e.g. those connected with the Orange Order, were more politically motivated. It was also unwise to have a Loyalist marching band in their regalia : such scenes acted as a red rag to a bull.

Events are well described elsewhere, but it was shameful to see the hooligans living up to Unionist stereotypes of nationalists as violent and intolerant.Battering the Gardaí with paving slabs, bottles and other missiles is unacceptable behaviour.These were vicious attacks by a hooligan element.Torching of cars, vandalism of property, looting of shops all followed.

The protest is believed to have been organised by Republican Sinn Fein , a minority dissident group who , in their newspaper , called for the march to be stopped. They succeeded in this goal. RSF are the political wing of the Continuity IRA, a terrorist group who do not accept the Good Friday Agreement and do not recognise the Irish parliament , Dail Eireann .Hardly surprising then that RSF members, whose placards were visible at the protest, do not have qualms about violently attacking the police force.

What was wrong with a peaceful protest against the Unionist march? by reacting violently, they have given Unionists a massive propoganda weapon.

Irresponsible but hardly surprising.