LIBERTAS:THE FOUNDER of anti-Lisbon Treaty group Libertas yesterday indicated his annoyance over a profile of him published in The Irish Times.
A Danish journalist asked Declan Ganley a question which referred to an article on Mr Ganley's background written by The Irish Timespublic affairs correspondent Colm Keena. The article, which was headlined "On the Mysterious Trail of 'Mr No' " was published on Saturday, May 31st.
The Libertas founder said in reply: "We will be talking to The Irish Timesafter the referendum." Asked what he meant by this, Mr Ganley repeated the same sentence.
Later, in a separate incident which occurred during a photocall in Merrion Square, a Libertas supporter pushed Mr Keena away from the door of its campaign bus when he leaned in the doorway to request an interview from another of the group's supporters who was sitting on the bus.
In an unsolicited statement to The Irish Timeslast night, Libertas said: "At a scheduled Libertas press conference on Merrion Square this afternoon, June 10th 2008, Irish Timesjournalist Colm Keena attempted uninvited to board the Libertas campaign bus on which a meeting and interview with another journalist was taking place.
"Mr Keena asked questions of a young female Libertas volunteer - a student from Sligo. The student felt threatened and intimidated and was visibly upset. Another volunteer attempted to descend from the bus onto the pavement and had his pathblocked by Mr Keena who leaned towards the volunteer knocking him off balance as the automatic door was closing on the man's back.
"As this was going on, a cameraman adjacent to Mr Keena was taking pictures and was heard to say: 'Brilliant, got it'.
"The foreign journalist on the bus witnessed what occurred and was appalled by the behaviour of Mr Keena and the photographer. This incident was witnessed by other members of the press. They are prepared to go on the record to confirm this account of the event. Libertas is conscious that there may be a misunderstanding but is concerned that this incident might result in a misrepresentation of the occurrence which was initiated by Mr Keena. Mr Keena was offered an interview with another young female Libertas volunteer but declined the offer."
Mr Keena said last night the woman on the bus did not get a chance to respond to his request. "A man whom I had not noticed before walked up the aisle of the bus from behind her and descended the steps out of the bus, putting out an arm and pushing me away from the doorway as he did so.
"When I again made to ask the woman if she would speak with me, the driver of the bus activated the bus door and told me the bus had to leave. The door hit me on the shoulder as I stood back. He turned on the engine but the bus did not leave. Mr Ganley subsequently got off the bus to give a scheduled press conference.
"The woman did seem to get upset but it is not clear to me why a political campaigner should feel intimidated because of a request for a comment at a press event. Nor do I understand why so many people intervened so quickly following my request for a comment."
Mr Keena said he was not accompanied by a photographer, though he believed photographs were taken of the incident.