Labour Councillor attacks protest at Fianna Fáil clinic

dublin | rights, freedoms and repression | news report Thursday May 07, 2009 16:33 by andyet

protests at clinics not “legitimate political protest” he says.

A Labour party councillor has attacked a group for picketing the clinic of a Fianna Fail TD.

Cllr Aodhan Ó Riordain said that in his view, pickets held outside the clinics of Fianna Fail public representatives are not a legitimate form of protest. Cllr O Riordain uses a picture of himself at a protest at the Store Street Garda station on his blog at www.aodhanoriordain.blogspot.com

Cllr Ó Riordáin engaging in “legitimate political protest”.

He is shown on the steps of the Garda station, where protesters had gathered blocking the entrance.

In an article on the very same blog, he very strongly criticised the People Before Profit group who organised a protest at Cyprian Brady’s clinic in North Strand.

Cllr O Riordain, who regularly used to take part in a Labour Party picket at the Mater Hospital, believes that democratically elected representatives are entitled to meet those who wish to discuss matters of concern to them.

Cllr Aodhan Ó Riordain is calling on the People Before Profit Alliance to desist from targeting clinics and engage solely in “legitimate political protest” from now on. Presumably, picketing hospitals and Garda stations is “legitimate political protest”.

“The clinic of Cyprian Brady TD in the local community centre on the North Strand was picketed by members of the People Before Profit group in protest against the recent budget. Pickets that are being placed at clinics held by Fianna Fáil public representatives are not a legitimate form of protest,” he says.

“If a constituent has a concern about housing, social welfare entitlements or any other issue, they are entitled to attend the clinic of the politician of their choosing,” he added.

The People Before Profits group told a local newspaper that Aodhan's stance was ridiculous.

“Nobody, not even Deputy Brady, made a complaint to us at the time or since. We also explained to staff at the Larkin Centre that we were not protesting at them. They informed us that they had no problem with the picket.”

It has been confirmed that Cyprian Brady TD made no complaint about the protest.