Businesses left frustrated as immigration protestors kept apart by gardai in Donegal
Members of the Public Order Unit deployed at the protests in Letterkenny. (North West Newspix)
A large Garda presence kept pro and anti-immigration protesters apart during separate gatherings in Letterkenny today.
A crowd of more than 1,500 gathered on both sides to make their voices heard.
A human chain of Gardai which included officers in riot gear and members of the public order unit, separated vocal protesters who gathered at the town's Market Square.
The Air Support Unit surveyed protesters from a helicopter as garda medics also waited on standby.
The larger anti-immigration crowd of up to 1,200 protesters waved Tricolour flags and held anti-Government banners as they marched from the town's Port Roundabout.
The crowd was diverted up the town's Church Lane so as to avoid a direct confrontation with their opposing protestors.
Gardai earlier erected crowd control barriers to keep both gatherings away from each other.
Protestors gathered throughout the day
There were verbal exchanges from both sides but it is not understood there were any major incidents and no arrests were reported.
Co Donegal's biggest town was unusually quiet from early morning as Gardai implemented a crowd control strategy which saw roads blocked off and traffic diverted.
Among those who spoke on behalf of the Donegal United Against Racism rally which had a crowd of up to 300 supporters were former Donegal TD, Thomas Pringle, Senator Eileen Flynn and Donegal County Councillor Declan Meehan.
Among those who spoke on behalf of those protesting about the arrival of immigrants into Donegal were former election candidate Kim McMenamin and Ciaran Tourish.
The town's Main Street remained closed to traffic for several hours on what should have been one of the busiest shopping days of the year, coinciding with the May Bank Holiday weekend.
President of the Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce, Mr Jimmy Stafford, said businesses felt frustrated by the lack of consultation.
He said "Had our members known that the road was going to close from 10am, they may have made a decision to close or made alternative arrangements with staff. There was no consultation with the Chamber by the authorities.
'We accept that there is a right to protest. Everybody has a right to protest from either side. The issue for us is just the lack of consultation around what was going to happen today from a road closure perspective and no parking for cars.
'We welcome the Garda presence. The main thing is that the protests go off peacefully.
Members of the Public Order Unit deployed at the protests in Letterkenny. (North West Newspix)
'Some of our members have spoken to me today. This should be one of their busiest days of the year. The May Bank Holiday is the kicking off of the summer period, there are a lot of tourists in down and the good weather. Their trade is decimated.
'Our members respect the right to protest from all sides. The lack of consultation is the thing for us.
'Had we been consulted around road closures, timing, parking and barriers, we could have put our members on notice.
'We have had a very good working relationship for years and we work very closely together - and we always have. There are learnings from this going forward around consultation and keeping us in the loop.
Another prominent Letterkenny businessman claimed the protest had cost traders "millions in lost revenue" and suggested the protests could have been held on the edge of the town.
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Sunday World
4 hours ago
- Sunday World
Ex-All-Star hurler accused of assaulting boy (12) told gardaí he acted in a ‘reasonable manner'
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He said: 'Around this time there were rumours in Sixmilebridge that I was going to lease the building as accommodation for asylum seekers Mr Gilligan added: 'There was resistance locally to this and there was no truth in that rumour as I had never been approached but I was concerned about an arson at the property especially after a fire had been lit and fire extinguishers were discharged.' Mr Gilligan said that as he had every concern that the building would be burnt out, he said that rang the Gardai on October 4th just before lunchtime and the call rang out. He said: 'I called into Sixmilebridge Garda Station a few times that day but did not get to meet any Garda on duty." He said that he called to the Garda Station on the morning of October 5th 'but there was no one there'. Mr Gilligan said that he purchased the Jamaica Inn hostel in 2022 and sold it on in late 2023 to a company in Shannon who required accommodation for staff. 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Irish Daily Mirror
4 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
GAA star accused of assaulting boy, 12, says he was 'protecting himself'
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He was covered head to toe in muck.' The father said that his son 'had a swollen hand and he was limping. He was talking quite fast as well and he was pale so I imagine adrenaline and shock." The father told the jury today that he got Niall Gilligan's phone number on the evening of October 5th after his son had told him what had occurred earlier where Mr Gilligan is accused of assaulting the boy with a stick. Niall Gilligan (file photo) (Image: ©INPHO/Donall Farmer) Mr Gilligan (48) of Rossroe, Kilmurry, Sixmilebridge, denies the charge of assault causing harm with a stick at the Jamaica Inn hostel, Sixmilebridge on October 5th 2023. In evidence, the father said that he phoned Mr Gilligan and said: 'I said I am currently in A&E with my son who you just viciously attacked.' The father said that Mr Gilligan did not respond to the allegation. In his account of the phone call, in his prepared statement read out in court by Dec Garda Noel Carroll, Mr Gilligan said: 'He said that his son got hurt. I made no comment to that after his son and others had broken into my building and caused extensive damage, including lighting a fire, releasing my fire extinguishers, breaking windows, writing graffiti." Mr Gilligan said that he decided there and then to take legal advice 'as soon as I could about this call and make a formal complaint to the Gardai about the damage and trespass'. Mr Gilligan was formally arrested on suspicion of assault at Shannon Garda Station on February 19th 2024 and accompanied there by his solicitor, Daragh Hassett, Mr Gilligan denied any assault and said that on October 5th 2023 at the Jamaica Inn hostel: 'I acted in a reasonable manner to protect myself from injury and assault from a person or persons unknown to me in the conditions that prevailed.' In the statement running to five pages, Mr Gilligan added: 'I acted in a reasonable manner to protect my property from destruction by fire and further damage.' He said: 'I didn't know who or what was coming at me that night." 'Something was coming at me, wasn't retreating or calling out to me so I had to defend myself as any reasonable person would. I feel sorry for the boy but the fact is that if he and others hadn't broken into my property, lit a fire, stole the keys and caused other damage, this incident would never have happened." He said: 'Since this incident, there has been despicable commentary about me over what actually happened - none of which is true. I am glad that I have the opportunity to set the record straight." On the incident with the boy at the Jamaica Inn, Mr Gilligan told Gardai that he realised on the evening of October 5th 2023 'that I wasn't alone in the building'. He said: "I went back down slowly picking up a wooden stick I found on the ground. As I entered the hallway, I heard voices and then saw two people running away to my left towards the external door I had come in. I then heard footsteps fast coming behind me over my right shoulder. I felt I was going to be attacked so to protect myself I drew out with the stick on two occasions and then kicked out twice. 'I shouted at the person to get back as I did this. At that stage, I could see that I was dealing with a male youth. I grabbed him by his coat or jacket and brought him out of the building. We went around the back to see where the other two intruders had gone to. When we got around the back we got entangled in the dark and fell on top of each other on a slippery path under the pine trees." Mr Gilligan said that he told the youth 'never to again enter my property". He said: 'I proceeded to walk him out to the front gate. I asked him his name at this stage. He gave his name. He made no complaint of any injuries to me.' He said: 'At that stage, I met Pat Donnellan who was parked outside. I told him that managing the property was a nightmare.' Mr Gilligan said that he had been "very concerned about fire and vandalism at the Jamaica Inn hostel'. He said: 'Around this time there were rumours in Sixmilebridge that I was going to lease the building as accommodation for asylum seekers." Mr Gilligan added: 'There was resistance locally to this and there was no truth in that rumour as I had never been approached but I was concerned about an arson at the property especially after a fire had been lit and fire extinguishers were discharged.' Mr Gilligan said that as he had every concern that the building would be burnt out, he said that rang the Gardai on October 4th just before lunchtime and the call rang out. He said: 'I called into Sixmilebridge Garda Station a few times that day but did not get to meet any Garda on duty." He said that he called to the Garda Station on the morning of October 5th 'but there was no one there'. Mr Gilligan said that he purchased the Jamaica Inn hostel in 2022 and sold it on in late 2023 to a company in Shannon who required accommodation for staff. At the conclusion of the evidence on Friday, Judge Francis Comerford told the jury that they had heard a lot of evidence today. He cautioned: 'Don't come to any firm conclusions in your own minds until you have heard all the evidence, the speeches by the lawyers and the charge from me.' The trial continues before a jury of seven men and five women on Monday. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
The Irish Sun
6 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Gardai revoke speeding charges & penalty points issued to 914 motorists on busy stretch over ‘much regretted' error
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