gardai double standards

national | miscellaneous | news report Thursday May 09, 2002 12:14 by clinton

Two hour protest on the Waterford - Limerick road results in no baton charges. A surprise?

There was a two hour long protest on the Waterford-Limerick road yesterday, but the Gardai didn't do anything. Seems they only attack young lefties: 

The Irish Times
A two-hour protest was staged on the Waterford-Limerick road yesterday in support of a farmer in dispute over compensation with Kilkenny County Council.

Mr Donal Norris says the council has refused to provide adequate compensation for the disruption caused by the new Piltown-Fiddown bypass, which runs to within 20 metres of his home.

He also wants the council to build an internal road to enable him to move his cattle for grazing to a section of his farm which was severed by the bypass.

Supporters of Mr Norris protested on the bypass yesterday over the way his case has been handled. About 50 vehicles including lorries and tractors were driven slowly on the hard shoulders between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., but gardaí said there was no disruption to traffic.

Since March, Mr Norris has intermittently been moving his cattle across the road in the mornings after milking, and back again in the evenings, causing temporary hold-ups on the bypass. Gardaí are usually present to supervise.

An underpass was provided by the council but Mr Norris says he needs an adequate internal road to be able to move his cattle safely.

A spokesman for the council said solicitors acting for it and Mr Norris had reached a verbal understanding on the matter last Friday week. Mr Norris's solicitor had subsequently written a letter to the council, which it received yesterday. As a result, it would be seeking clarification of Mr Norris's position.