[ad_1]
An anti-lockdown demonstration unfolded without incident in Cork city center, as a succession of speakers harshly criticized the government’s response to Covid-19 to enthusiastic applause from a crowd estimated by Gardaí at around 700 people.
A large Garda force was apparent in the city center around noon on Saturday, as the Garda air support helicopter flew overhead. The hour-long gathering at the intersection of Patrick St and Winthrop Street was dubbed by the organizers as “A Rally for Truth.”
Among the speakers was former Cork County Councilor Diarmuid O Cadhla, who claimed the government was lying about the number of people dying from Covid-19 and creating fear among people for an unnecessary shutdown.
“People are really scared, they live in fear, unnecessarily,” said O Cadhla, who accused the government of “spinning the numbers” and said they were targeting “a disease that was a minor cause of death” rather than investing. in a public health system suitable for all.
“In the last week, we were told that luckily the numbers are going down – I’d say it’s because spring is in the air – summer is coming and flu-like symptoms, which is what Covid shows, are lacking in summer- are drastically reduced.
People take part in the protest in Cork on Saturday. Photograph: Niall Carson / PA Wire
“Banks and Big Pharma are going to generate billions of dollars in profits from this crisis and we, the people, are once again being used as cannon fodder to enrich the richest in our society. We need media that tell us the truth and we need journalism that discovers the truth and we are not succeeding ”.
Another earlier speaker, Peter O’Donoghue, a native of Kilworth, who described himself as an ordinary family man, said he was attending the rally simply to show his frustration with the government and what he said was his “unconstitutional use of the lockdown against Covid ”.
“I march for all the people who have died alone from all causes since this confinement began and were never given a proper funeral; I also march for their families who have not been able to cry adequately due to this unnecessary confinement, ”he said.
Another speaker, Louise Donnellan from Carrigaline thanked people for attending today to “show Micheál Martin and Leo Varadkar that we are defending our democratic rights, our rights to freedom, our right to travel this country and this island in peace.”
Another speaker, Paddy Bulman from Youghal claimed that the Government was telling people to stay home to stop the spread of the virus, but what they really wanted was to stop the spread of the people was the truth and to prevent the issue from exercising the sovereign right to choose its form of government.
There was a large Garda presence in the city before and during the demonstration. Photograph: Niall Carson / PA Wire
“They will take away your constitutional rights and lock you in your homes and when you question it, they accuse you of being a general public plagued by viruses, far-right, neo-Nazi, crypto-fascist, disobedient. the spread of the virus is about stopping spreading the truth, “he said.
Among those attending the rally were the twins, Katriona and Pamela Mackey, both members of the Cork camouflage team who said they were not right-wing extremists but were deeply concerned about the collateral damage the confinement was having on physical well-being. and mental of the people.
“I don’t think that the Government and the Nphet (National Public Health Emergency Team) have taken into account the impact of the confinement on people’s mental health; We can no longer ignore collateral damage; A few weeks was fine, but 12 months later, what has really changed, nothing has changed, ”said Katriona of Douglas.
Pamela added: “We are lagging behind all other countries in terms of an exit strategy, I mean they seem to be ignoring the beneficial impact of sport on the lives of young people. Are we willing to lose all that beneficial impact of sport with this blockade? I don’t think it’s correct. “
Several people in the demonstration wore masks, but the vast majority did not cover their faces, while the rules of social distancing were almost completely ignored and practically no one stayed within two meters of the person next to them, which caused great congestion in the streets. .
The rally ended with well-known Cork busker Shirley Scannell singing “Our Father” as Gaeilge before Mr. O Cadhla led the crowd, a handful of whom wore tricolor, in a performance of Amhran na bhFiann before peacefully dispersed.
A woman participates in the protest. Photograph: Niall Carson / PA Wire
Arrests
According to Garda Press, Gardaí in Cork City implemented a police plan that involved more than 200 members of the force, including the Garda Mounted Unit, the Garda Dog Unit and the Garda National Public Order Unit, but none of the three units were deployed because no problems arose with the event.
One person was arrested for public order offenses, while a street performer acting as a fire eater was arrested for violating Section 31 (a) (9) of the Health Act of 1947 when he arrived at the rally site with a boat. of gasoline and refused to comply with a garda order.
Under Operation Fanacht, the ongoing national operation in support of Public Health Regulations, gardaí established additional high-visibility checkpoints on all major access roads to Cork City in the Cork North and Cork West Divisions to ensure that travel restrictions be observed.
Officers arrested four others, three men and one woman, in Cork, Kerry and Kildare counties in what they say were arrests “related to the Cork City event” after they failed to comply with Gardaí’s instructions under Section 31 (a) (7) Health Act of 1947.
The Gardaí had warned members of the public in advance not to attend the protest in the city center and they had launched a major police plan.
Garda sources said the violence that occurred at an anti-lockdown event in Dublin last weekend had informed the preparation of the police plan for the Cork protest, though organizers of the Cork event say they are not affiliated in any way with those who were behind last weekend. Grafton Street protest.
[ad_2]