Senior gardaí had to form a human chain yesterday to protect the Ceann Comhairle, Dr Rory O'Hanlon, and the Minister of State for the Environment, Pat the Cope Gallagher, as a crowd of between 7,000 and 8,000 demonstrators converged at the opening of a new bypass in Co Monaghan.
They were protesting over the downgrading of services at Monaghan General Hospital.
There were wild scenes on the roadway as the protesters, waving placards and chanting slogans, jeered Dr O'Hanlon as he arrived for the ceremony, which was due to be performed by Mr Gallagher.
At one stage, gardaí had to escort Dr O'Hanlon to the side of a parked bus to shield him from the angry crowd.
Some soil was thrown in the direction of the Cavan/Monaghan deputy, who was once a minister for health, as he was ushered through the shouting throng, but no one was injured and no damage was caused.
Peadar McMahon, chairman of the Monaghan Hospital Community Alliance, who addressed the protesters, emphasised that it was a peaceful protest and he urged the demonstrators to abide by the direction of stewards.
However, before the ceremony was due to begin, a large section of the crowd forced their way through barriers to the reserved area where the opening was due to take place.
Garda officers, including a superintendent and two inspectors, formed a protective human chain around Dr O'Hanlon as angry protesters shouted their demands for the retention of services at the Monaghan hospital.
Chief Supt Colm Rooney, head of the Cavan/Monaghan Garda division, was present to supervise the operation.
Despite the general uproar on the roadway, Dr Hanlon agreed to a number of impromptu interviews as he was shielded by the parked coach. He said, amid the din, that his role was not a political one and he accepted the right of people to protest, so long as it was within the "realm of democracy".
The protesters had completely swamped the area reserved for the bypass opening ceremony at this stage and they continued waving placards and chanting slogans critical of Government policy.
At one stage, it seemed certain the bypass opening might be postponed until another day, but it was then revealed that the Minister was on his way.
Earlier, Mr Gallagher met the hospital campaign group chairman, Peadar McMahon, and another member of the campaign committee, Dr Illona Duffy, in a Monaghan hotel, where he assured them he would bring their proposals regarding the future of Monaghan General Hospital to the Government.
He also promised he would bring the issue to the attention of the Minister for Health and the Taoiseach.
There were more scenes on the roadway as the protesters surged forward to confront Mr Gallagher.
Gardaí again formed a human chain to enable the Minister and Dr O'Hanlon, as well as another member of the Oireachtas, Senator Francie O'Brien, to join councillor Pádraig McNally and other officials for the unveiling of a roadside plaque.
Shouts from the protesters drowned out any attempts by the speakers to address the crowd, and Fr Paddy McGinn had some difficulty amid the din to recite a short prayer of blessing.