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People carrying banners and waving tricolor gathered at Market Square in Letterkenny for what they called a “peaceful gathering” on Saturday.
Gardaí observed the demonstration but made no arrests. However, they did speak to various participants.
The vast majority of those who attended the event did not wear masks as they gathered in groups. Many traveled from across the border in neighboring Derry for the rally.
Before the event, local business leaders, including Letterkenny Chamber CEO Toni Forrester, pleaded with organizers to drop their plans.
Local County Councilor Micheal Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig also criticized the meeting.
Several speakers addressed the crowd, including the event’s main organizer, Kim McMenamin. McMenamin said he was not against people wearing masks, but said the second wave of Covid-19 was a lie.
He encouraged people to read up on what he described as the real events surrounding the “scam,” as he called it.
Is there a second wave? No, there is not. We must investigate and obtain the knowledge.
“Arm yourself with information and once you have it, spread it out to everyone you know.
“We are fed up with the lies, hypocrisy and deception of the Government. We will not accept it anymore, ”he said.
He added that it was up to the Irish people to defy the regulations that said Irish schools were now like prison camps.
He also challenged the media for “promoting lies on behalf of the government” and encouraged people to search for information on the Internet.
Other speakers included Ben Gilroy and local man Ciaran Boyle, who said that his YouTube channel had been banned because it challenged information about Covid-19 released by the Irish government.
Unrest
There were small disturbances when some people collided with those who were conducting the event while others filmed the media covering the event.
Gardaí had previously said that they were aware of the fact, but said that the use of masks or social distancing were not “criminal regulations”.
“Gardaí is aware of a planned protest to take place in Letterkenny. A Garda Síochána has no role in allowing or authorizing protest marches or meetings, no permission / authorization is required for such events.
“The Government, on the advice of the National Public Health Emergencies Team (NPHET), announced an increase in public health measures that are being implemented to stop the spread of Covid-19 in Co Donegal as of midnight on Friday. September 25th.
“The Health Act of 1947 (Section 31A-Temporary Restrictions) (COVID-19) (No.5) Regulations 2020, as amended, is currently in effect and establishes criminal restrictions on individuals who organize certain events.
“Individual attendance, social distancing, the use of masks in public areas and other similar guidelines are not criminal regulations.”
The statement said that in support of the Covid-19 public health guidelines and regulations, “An Garda Síochána has adopted and will continue to adopt a graduated police response based on its tradition of consent policing.”
“This has made Garda members participate, educate, encourage and, as a last resort, enforce. When possible infractions of the Public Health Regulations are identified, a file is sent to the Director of the Public Prosecutor’s Office to indicate how to proceed ”.
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