The actions of gardaí during an anti-war protest outside the Dáil last night were today described as provocative, unjustified, brutal and unprofessional by members of the Opposition.
Several hundred anti-war protesters were involved in a sit-down protest outside Leinster House last night over the use of Shannon airport by the US Air Force. Many protesters were dragged away by members of the Garda Public Order Unit.
Mr Richard Boyd Barrett one of the organisers of theprotest and chairman of the Irish Anti War Movement said the action of the Garda was "deliberate and calculated".
"The intention was to provoke a full-scale riot and blame demonstrators for what happened afterwards," he said.
"It is a tribute to all those on the protest that this plan failed. The protesters remained peaceful throughout even in the face a brutal and unwarranted attack by riot police," he added.
There was also criticism of the absence of identification numbers on the uniforms of the riot squad from Green Party leader, Mr Trevor Sargent; Socialist Party TD, Mr Jim Higgins - who was dragged off the street by gardaí; and Labour's Mr Joe Costello.
At a press conference this morning, all called on the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, to investigate why certain gardaí were not displaying their identification numbers. Mr McDowell was also called on to explain what guidance or direction the riot squad received to deal with "peaceful protesters".
The Opposition TDs also agreed "there is now a clear need for a police ombudsman" to investigate complaints of overuse of force by members of the gardaí.
Mr Sargent recalled when he had been arrested at Sellafield. He said that he was told that if he did not move from sitting down and blocking a road he would be arrested. After refusing to move he was given the option of being escorted away by British police or being removed forcibly. Mr Sargent said protesters last night were given "no options" in this regard.
However, ordinary uniformed gardaí at the protest were praised for their co-operation by one of the demostration's organisers, Mr Brendan Butler. He said that one garda had asked him to remove his hands from a crash barrier because he was concerned that protesters' hands might get crushed.
Mr McDowell, however, insisted on RTÉ radio this morning that gardaí had acted professionally during the protest. "The gardaí are upholding the law, and they are doing so legitimately," he said.
He conceded, however, that the fact some officers were not wearing identification badges "was matter of some concern" that he would raise with the Garda Comissioner.
Mr Simon Coveney of Fine Gael said TDs had a Constitutional right to enter and leave Dáil Éil Eireann.
"Some members of the crowd were unreasonable and the guards were only doing their job and upholding public order when they removed protesters from the streets," Mr Coveney said.
"Certainly any issue of Garda identification not being visible should be addressed by the Minister for Justice," he added.