Armed Combat ready troops of Irish army were deployed in numbers around dail today - Bertie Why?

by Max Mon Mar 24, 2003 02:41

I can confirm there has been a small armed group of troops attached to Government Buldings / the Dail, they work with the special services. I've seen them over the years.

I don't believe there has been any change.

by Hello Mon Mar 24, 2003 00:41

have been members of the military police (red beret) at government buildings for the last 30 years

by BlackPope Mon Mar 24, 2003 00:29

was seen yesterday evening by myself and a group of about 10 others at 7pm standing inside the gates of Leinster House.

When challenged to share equal time on the megaphone he hastily locked the gate with a bunch of keys and declined with the words, "No, I don´t want to talk to you."

When further challenged to state his Nationality and identify the uniform he wore, he scarpered fairly rapidly out of sight without another word.

Well, probably just another US spy with the free run of this country! It should therefore now become habitual for such suspected spies and assorted touts as one finds in plain-clothes at the demos to be challenged by affinity groups trained for this purpose, arrested by the citizenry if they refuse to ID themselves or are unconvincing about it, photographed and taken to the nearest Garda Station where charges must be brought for spying in time of War. This will force the State to ID them officially, and we can post a rogue´s gallery of their mugshots here, plus details of true name and occupation as a warning example.

by sean south Mon Mar 24, 2003 00:14 garryowen

And as they marched along the street
up to the barracks door,
they scorned the dangers they would face,
their fate that lay in store,
They were fighting for old Ireland's cause
to claim their very own,
And the foremost of that gallant band
was South from Garryowen.

But the sergeant foiled their daring plan,
he spied them through the door,
From the sten guns and the rifles,
a hail of death did pour,
And when that awful night was past,
two men lay cold as stone,
There was one from near the border
and one from Garryowen.

by anon Sun Mar 23, 2003 20:55

I saw two combat troops as I was leaving the march, they were inside government buildings, and were equipped with Steyr rifles and accompanied by members of the Gardaí with dogs.

That's the first time I saw soldiers on the recent demos - if they're being assigned there now, the demos must be having some sort of impression on the FF morons in power.

I wonder what would have happened had they been charged by the crowd?

Also, while marching through Kidare St. I saw a female cop who looked impressed with what she saw, as opposed to scornful.

Two cops (and later more) were seen to be taking hecklers away from the march, this was on the final few hundred yards of the march as it rounded away from Baggot St and down towards the front of Leinster House.

by LD Sun Mar 23, 2003 17:46

I witnessed two combat troops with rifles/machine guns? couldn't tell the difference.
When I saw them they were lurking behind the gov. building gates. This is clearly intimidation despite the fact that the worst thing that happened yesterday were some kids throwing red paint at the building (which in my view in the current situation is a completely justified action/form of protest).
The Gardai yesterday acted in a very fair way allowing people to express their feelings and at no point did I witness any form of intimidation from the Gardai. I believe the Gardai apart from those at Shannon are tired of being used by the government and Bertie now feels the need for a military presence to scare protesters.

by Sparks Sun Mar 23, 2003 14:22

Will my eywitness testimony count as evidence? There were two men in combat fatigue uniforms with red berets watching the crowd in front of the government buildings from the safety of the roof, and the moment that they saw they had been observed they ducked back out of sight.

by Sylvia Pankhurst - Anarchist Federation Sun Mar 23, 2003 12:11

It was on RTE, troops in combat uniform in Dublin.

by Deadly Serious - deadly serious investigatinos Sun Mar 23, 2003 11:06 darragh_scully at yahoo dot com darwin, Australia

ok so I know this will come as a shock but the guy has a point, who will believe you if you dont have the evidence. What I say when interviewing suspects is 'hey you must think your talking to Constable O'Reilly (pronounced oh really), especially when I know they are telling fibbs.

by Dawn patrol Sun Mar 23, 2003 08:08

Max, only a very immature person would repeat the same few words over and over again in the body of one comment, rather than putting forward a combination of coherent points.
That kind of behaviour is very similar to that of a six-year-old, who at least has the excuse of immaturity by reason of age. If you want to be taken seriously you should make an honest effort to persuade those you disagree with.

by Max Sun Mar 23, 2003 04:56

no evidence... no evidence... no evidence... no evidence... no evidence... no evidence... no evidence... no evidence... no evidence... no evidence... no evidence... no evidence... no evidence... no evidence... no evidence... no evidence... no evidence...

by Aj Sun Mar 23, 2003 04:31

If you can back this up with evidence then please do, otherwise I remian unconvinced

by Heidi Moore - Student Publications Portland State University Sun Mar 23, 2003 03:47 globalp at hotmail dot com

Dearest Irish friends.

I spent a year in your country two years ago, I love you all. Here in Portland Oregon, police are beating us, and slamming us on the ground and doing all kinds of crazy things. We must not relinquish our demands to stop this war. We need your help in impeaching Bush. Please begin a letter of impeachment to pass around at your protests, and then, send the signeratures to the United Nations. Our government is out of our control, and we need the help of the Irish to get rid of Bush.
Thank you,
Heidi Moore
Student Publications
Portland State University
Portland Oregon

by Bertram Sun Mar 23, 2003 03:45

Sammy who? Don't tink I know him.
I don't remember getting any donations from anyone dat name.
Honest.