A CROWD OF protestors against the Household Charge gathered outside an event where Environment Minister Phil Hogan was speaking in Carlow last night.
One local councillor, Fine Gael’s Michael Abbey, spoke out against their behaviour, which occurred as the Minister was opening a new museum in the town.
He said he believed those protesting were not all Carlow natives – “they were there for one reason and one reason only – they were there to attack the Minister.” While he noted that “their protest is something we all agree with”, he described their behaviour as “absolutely scurrilous”.
Cllr Abbey said the behaviour was intimidating to a group of young children who were waiting to play music at the event.
Whatever your sympathies and whatever your views on the right or wrongness of the Household Charge, there is no excuse for this. It was a great Carlow occasion and we had waited for so many years for our own museum and there was a wonderful facility which had been put in place. In no sense were they hell bent on doing anything other than causing the maxiumum of disruption.
Cllr Abbey said that he supported peaceful protest but not the behaviour he saw last night. He said that for the people who put so much into the opening of the museum, “it was very disappointing for them; they didn’t have a chance to enjoy it”.
Deputy Joan Collins, who was not present at last night’s event, is opposed to the Household Charge. She told TheJournal.ie today that she would not have a problem with protesting, but did not condone some of last night’s behaviour:
In general you would have a go off the minister but I would not condone people using bad language. But I don’t know what happened there.
Minister Hogan’s press officer said he did not believe Minister had plans to comment on last night’s events.
- Additional reporting by Hugh O’Connell
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