People Before Profit Dundalk
(peoplebeforeprofitdundalk@gmail.com)
Dear editor,
Firstly, our community action group would like to thank your publication for the fair reportage of our protest at Dermot Ahern’s residence in Blackrock. As the only local Newspaper to report our actions, we believe that you are keeping the door of neutral journalism ajar in these difficult times.
Our Letter is in response to the inaccuracies and scurrilous remarks reportedly spoken by the Minister for Justice and law reform regarding our silent, small and short protest at his residence.
We would like to address the issue of the minister’s family safety during this one hour silent and peaceful protest. We’d been in constant contact with the Gardai in Dundalk and Blackrock, indeed when the silent protesters arrived the attending squad car was ushered away by the village sergeant as the non-threatening nature of the group became apparent. The gate to his residence was not blocked nor were there protesters either side or nearby and so it is difficult to understand the ministers claim that his family were some how blocked from entry. No vehicles arrived at the residence during the protest. In fact the only incident to occur was when a neighbour describing the minister as “my Dermot” became loud and abusive, the protesters did not even look at her as she was led away by the Sergeant. Were these the actions of a frightened neighbour? No other neighbours made known their fears to us or the Gardai, indeed many seemed amused. We doubt the Gardai failed to communicate to the minister the peaceful and silent nature of our small gathering. Assuming that they did, we can only conclude that he is hiding behind his neighbours and family, a new step to compliment his tip toe-ing around issues.
We also make comment on Dermot Ahern’s assertion that he contacted one of the “main protagonists” of the protest who apologised on behalf of People Before Profit, claiming to be ashamed. If by “main protagonist” the minister means a People Before Profit organiser, then this is a lie. No organisers or members were contacted by the minister, and our public meeting voted this Wednesday night in favour of a motion challenging the Minister for Justice and law reforms assertion.
On the minister’s remarks that we are unrepresentative, who does the minister represent? Voters for Dermot Ahern in the last election voted for a man who said the economy was in good nick, when in fact it was in free fall. They voted for a man who promised to keep the Louth hospital open, remember “not on my watch” minister? They did not vote for the man that hides away from them now, the man that is the real Dermot Ahern. People Before Profit in Dundalk claim only to represent those that attend meetings, family, neighbours and friends that support our views. None the less we are strong, determined and growing.
Finally, the minister has been reported saying that our community action group is akin to the provisional IRA. Such irresponsible language may return to haunt him. Not to be outdone the “provos” as he described them may decide to mount a running picket outside his residence. We do not believe in the use of violence, but peaceful and assertive protest coupled with community education, people empowerment in a nutshell. Although the closure of the Louth hospital and government cuts have brought and will increasingly cause much misery, indeed death, in the communities of Dundalk, we have not stooped so low as to accuse you of being a terrorist minister.
Wednesday nights meeting also voted overwhelmingly to support further such actions, a strategy which can be reviewed in the context of the minister making public his engagements or even, lest it be too much to ask, make regular and public his attendance at his constituency office.
We shall continue our campaigns in Dundalk and are heartened by the positive public response to our peaceful protest.
Regards,
People Before Profit public meeting attendees (20/10/10)
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