THE MAN WHO drove a concrete mixer truck to the gates of Leinster House to protest against ‘Anglo Toxic Bank’ has declared he will stand as an independent in the general election.

Joe McNamara made his announcement at a raucous public meeting being hosted by Fianna Fail TD Frank Fahey in the Clayton Hotel in Galway last night. A member of the Free Education for Everyone group from NUI Galway (FEE) told TheJournal.ie that McNamara declared his intention as last night’s meeting descended into heckling and a partial walkout on the TD for Galway West and his guest speaker, Alan Ahearne, who is an advisor to Brian Lenihan.

The FEE member said:

Just after the walkout, he (McNamara) grabbed the mic and said he would be running as an independent. He has nothing to do with us – we’re a grassroots students group. He’s supposed to be running against Frank Fahey in Galway.

Attempts to contact McNamara by TheJournal.ie today have been unsuccessful. The returning officer for the Galway West constituency confirmed that no submission for his nomination has been made so far today – however, submissions for nominations are not accepted anyway until a date is officially set for the general election.

Joe McNamara, 41, from Dun na Carraige, Salthill, Galway, pleaded not guilty in December to charges of criminal damage and motoring charges in relation to the September incident at Leinster House. He is due to appear at Dublin District Court again on March 21.

A report of last night’s meeting carried by the Belfast Telegraph says Frank Fahey was booed at the beginning at the “noisy” meeting.