One protestor called Gardai Nazi’s
CHAOTIC scenes unfolded inside Limerick Circuit Courthouse this Friday when a large group of protestors brought a halt to proceedings during a sitting of the repossessions list with county registrar Pat Wallace.
Members of the Anti Eviction Taskforce took to a standing protest within the courtroom as they claimed that lawyers for the financial institutions and banks were “telling lies” to the registrar in order to secure the repossession of houses from distressed mortgage holders.
162 cases were listed before County Registrar Pat Wallace this Friday morning and shortly before 12 noon, the protesters took to the floor claiming that it was “their court” and demanding that the legal practitioners abandon their cases on behalf of the banks.
Chants of “out, out, out”, were aimed at solicitors and barristers as angry scenes unfolded when the protestors clashed with gardai.
“Where are the banks here today, they are just represented on paper and you have people here trying to survive”, others vehemently shouted.
Clashes with gardai were witnessed as some protestors were escorted from the courtroom as they filmed the incident with camera phones and chanted while adding to the disruption.
On three occasions, Pat Wallace was forced to stand down from the bench due to the shouting and jeering before he eventually abandoned the case list when the crowds began to sing the Irish National anthem.
Court gardai were forced to call for assistance and upwards of 30 gardai arrived including detectives and garda sergeants who were attending the nearby criminal courts.
After Mr Wallace left the courtroom, a number of protestors attempted to host a ‘mock trial’ within the court and “bring the bankers to justice”.
A fake jury was sworn as a protestor went to the judge’s bench to act as the “executioner’.
However the “proceedings” were halted and order was restored as Gardai cleared the court under the provisions of the Public Order Act.
There were further clashes at the courthouse main door as the protestors refused to leave the building and some had to be forcibly removed.
As tensions calmed, the protestors, upwards of 100, gathered outside and carried banners and a white coffin, emblazoned with slogans, as they marched from the courthouse at Merchants Quay, along Patrick Street and on to O’Connell Street.
The protest continued to the premises of three main financial institution located on O’Connell Street where it is understood that the main doors of the banks were temporarily closed under advisement from Gardai.
A hearse was used to load the white coffin on O’Connell Street as it blocked traffic.
It is understood that a number of arrests were made.
PROSECUTIONS
CRIMINAL prosecutions are likely to follow a protest over house repossessions at Limerick circuit court last Friday.
A large group of protestors clashed with Gardaí before county registrar Pat Wallace abandoned the list of repossession cases scheduled for hearing.
Members of the Anti Eviction Taskforce jeered and shouted at lawyers representing the financial institutions and accused them of telling lies to secure repossession of houses from distressed mortgage holders.
162 cases were listed to be heard by Mr Wallace when, shortly before 12 noon, the protesters took to the floor claiming that it was their court and demanding that the lawyers abandon their cases, amid chants of “out, out, out”.
Some of the protestors were escorted from the courtroom as they filmed and chanted.
Mr Wallace was forced to leave the bench on three occasions before he eventually abandoned the case list as the protestors sang Amhrán na bhFiann.
Gardaí on duty in the court had to call for assistance and upwards of 30 gardai arrived including detectives and sergeants who were attending the nearby criminal courts.
One protestor was filmed describing the Gardaí as “Nazis”.
Upwards of a hundred protestors then carried banners and a white coffin to the doors of the three main financial institutions on O’Connell Street.
The white coffin was then put in to a hearse as it blocked traffic on the main city thoroughfare.
Afterwards, Independent councillor Emmett O’Brien, who is a barrister, condemned the actions of the protestors and accused them of “engaging in anarchy”.
“They have shamefully intimidated citizens exercising their duty and work. It is unacceptable for a mob with no mandate to occupy the courthouse and call our Gardaí ‘Nazis’.
“This mob, the majority of whom were not from Limerick, have no place in Ireland. It was shocking to hear them shout the age old anti-Semitic slur of “Rothschilds” during the course of their protest.
“While we all agree with lawful protests resorting to this type of action and occupying the court room is unacceptable,” Cllr O’Brien added.
