A MEETING WAS held between gardaí and Love Ulster march organiser Willie Frazer over his plans for another demonstration in Dublin, a spokesperson confirmed this evening.
There have been calls for the march to be called off after a similar parade in 2006 resulted in riots after the group marched down O’Connell Street.
“It is the policy of An Garda Síochána to seek the co-operation of those involved in organising peaceful protests and demonstrations to ensure the safety of all,” gardaí said.
However, they remained tight-lipped on the details of the meeting, which are not released for operational reasons.
The Herald today reported that Frazer said gardaí ‘didn’t have an issue’ with the march, due to take place in the next couple of weeks.
Fianna Fáil councillor Jim O’Callaghan has a motion due to be discussed at the next council meeting expressing opposition to the rally.
O’Callaghan told TheJournal.ie this evening that if the march does take place, he hopes it passes over peacefully.
“The effect of the last march was violence on the streets,” O’Callaghan said, “I’m not saying [Frazer] was responsible, but it was a consequence of the march.”
I think it is only rational that ordinary people may have a concern.
He said that people are entitled to march.
“I’m not trying to stop a march – we don’t live in a police state – but [Frazer] is trying to make a political point about alleged collusion, which he can make in other ways. He doesn’t need to be provocative.”
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