You Weren’t There Man, You Don’t Know What I’ve Seen

at

Last night.

Claire Byrne Live on RTÉ 1.

Irish Times journalist Ronan McGreevy recounts the ‘shocking things’ he witnessed at last Saturday’s skanger-hijacked, anti-lockdown protest.

Yesterday: Roaming Candle

Meanwhile…

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81 thoughts on “You Weren’t There Man, You Don’t Know What I’ve Seen

    1. Bodger

      Via Irish Times: The group comprises males from the Monkstown/Dún Laoghaire area who have a history of engaging in anti-social behaviour. “They are a bunch of thugs who have terrorised Monkstown Farm for years. They are organised in a sense that they all work together and are into all sorts of stuff. But mainly just thugs,” a source said.

      1. Charger Salmons

        If these thugs are well-known and there is clear photographic evidence of one of them holding the rocket why hasn’t he had his front door kicked in at dawn already by the scuffers ?
        He’s had plenty of time to destroy evidence.
        Garda Intelligence my posterior.
        If they had any and knew this was going to kick off why were all the Keystone Kops dressed for traffic duty ?

      2. Brother Barnabas

        and if* it emerges that the individual who fired the firework at the gardai is a member of the Irish Freedom Party – and there are photos of him distributing leaflets for the IFP earlier in the day – will you revise the angle you’re taking here?

        *more “when” than “if”

          1. GiggidyGoo

            Good girl Daisy. Simple question and off you run
            .
            So you asked – ‘Why did nobody tell him to stop ranting at gardai, threatening them? ‘

            If I’d have been there, no I wouldn’t have broached the subject with him. I value my health

            So – how about you? Would you have done so? By not answering, you’ve given your answer.

          2. Daisy Chainsaw

            Aside from the fact he wouldn’t be at any protest marches I’ve attended, I wouldn’t approach a yellow vest/nazional party thug because they’re known to be violent. His fellow protesting thugs were happy enough for him to shoot at gardai, it seems.

      3. george

        I know there were thugs protesting but that doesn’t mean the protest was hijacked by thugs.

    2. TypeONegative

      Yeah some of those lockdown protestors are good people. Not the skangers looking for a scrap, or the flag-waving ultra-nationalist ones throwing nazi salutes of course, or those 5G conspiracy ones, or the ones who believe masks to be akin to a muzzle on their freedom, or the ones who want to make some money and the vulnerable be damned – the other ones.

      1. Joe

        Really “the other ones” ?
        I have looked under every fetid rock and down the sewers I have even checked out homes for the mentally enfeebled and I still can’t find them!
        Perhaps after seeing how their fellow “Lockdown Protestors” look and behave and have reflected upon their idiotic nonsensical conspiracy theories, any person who at least possesses two brain cells have deserted them.
        That just leaves us with the flag-waving ultra-nationalist, 5G conspiracy anti mask wearing skangers along with the scam artists that can make money out of them whilst they spread their hate and pestilence.

      2. Bitnboxy

        Indeed. A few violent and disaffected thugs intent on causing harm ruined the peaceful protest of a few other violent and disaffected thugs intent on causing harm.

  1. dan

    Total mismanagement by the Gardai allowed this situation to get out of control. Keystone cops, undertrained, under resourced, under educated

    1. Joe

      Watching the video I would say totally untrained and under equipped. The Garda management on the day should be sacked for endangering the public because of exceptionally bad crowd control and the lack of discipline of their own Gardai.

  2. f_lawless

    Risible attempts at public perception management. I saw Simon Harris was on twitter yesterday calling the firework incident “an attack on our democracy”!

    Here’s a clip of shortly after the guards had given up on blocking the streets. Throngs of people walking peacefully down Grafton street. Gives a good indication of the numbers who attended.
    https://twitter.com/PhilipWatson_/status/1366527478664212480

    1. goldenbrown

      agree on Harris’ risible hyperbole but as we’re on this subject…

      is a “capital offence” limited to the murder of a Guard or does it also cover a schedule of more severe punishments for lesser offences like attempted murder, gbh etc. perpetrated upon a Guard?

      1. george

        I don’t think people were ever hanged for assaulting a Garda.

        The concept of a “capital offence” should be done away with though as we no longer have capital punishment and I don’t see how the murder of a non-Garda (a child for example) is somehow as lower level of crime than the murder of a Garda.

        1. goldenbrown

          agree on keeping execution as far away from here as possible

          but I thought that the logic of a more severe than normal sentence regime for doing a Guard so to speak was a cornerstone of consent-based policing, a deterrent no? as in you get a proper life-life sentence as opposed to 20 years for a civilian

          pretty sure it’s 40 years no parole for murder

          anyway I was just wondering if say gbh of a Guard would attract automatic 20 years

    2. GiggidyGoo

      Worrying times for FFGr. Thousands of, yes, peaceful ordinary people making their point. Of course you won’t see that on Irish media. The worm has turned.

      1. V aka Frilly Keane

        Doubt they’re in the slightest bit worried

        Yellow Vests, National Party and Freedom Party just gave them a 10 point bump

        seriously lads, is this Gript’lite here now

        1. GiggidyGoo

          The video in the link doesn’t seem to be what the way group members of those organizations you mention would be behaving.
          It’s a considerable number of people. I’d be worried if they were all members of who you suggest.

          1. Bitnboxy

            Lol! The violence and mayhem last Saturday was literally porn for an SS (Scrote Spokesperson) like GiggidyPox.

            The GooGooPox in all their angry disaffection and dysfunction at their lot in life is out hawking the “twas only a few bad eggs” nonsense like nobody’s business, aching for more thug chaos.

            But Grifters life GriftyGooPox gonna Grift.

            Grift Media-lite: quite an apposite observation V!

            There’s your favourite word of mine again GiggidyPox!

          2. Bitnboxy

            Is that steam from your ears GiggidyPox? ROFL!

            Go on now, there has been enough transparent nonsense from you on this thread.

            Grab your high-vis and get your nasty derrière to the port to do something decent for yourself and the rest of us.

            Boxy: keeping it real.

    3. Daisy Chainsaw

      The public perceive these ratlicker rallies exactly as they are. Lockdown breaking scabs and traitors rioting, led by racists and bigots.

        1. f_lawless

          You could point out the irony of her comment GG and even urge her to indulge in more constructive ways to express hereslef but it’s a given at this stage that she comes on to threads like these just to spew bile at others. Until that changes, I’d say leave Daisy be.

          1. Bitnboxy

            Ah, would you go on out of that.

            In terms of spewing bile on here, I think Grifty GiggidyPox is unparalleled.

            Daisy doesn’t even come close!

            Sheesh!

        2. goldenbrown

          indeed, you could claim that, however as Richard Corrigan once famously said to an over picky judge who queried his seasoning as he smashed all round him in competition “lookit the salt cellar is there in front of you on the table…you can always add salt but you can’t take it away”

          consequence being of all this Giggidy is that the very concept of a peaceful powerful protest (when the likes of these fupps get in amongst to conflate in their nano-minority less than socially acceptable views) is now dead. in two years from now, thanks to these fupps, there won’t be another “successful” protest movement like the one I marched for with my kids to protest against the privatisation of water. and it definitely will be needed. in fact if you were sitting in Govt and you wanted a way to stymie the people, the citizens, from interfering in your partys ideology and attempted doings I couldn’t think of a better way to take the wind out of their sails than to add some scumbag salt to the mix. this plays really well for FFG.

          1. goldenbrown

            that’s not the same thing and you know it, that’s borderline whataboutery there Giggidy

            isolated incidences like that of a resident standing ground outside their property to defend it against a crew of water meter installers doing things against their will and the will of the people is not the same as a protest march and is definitely not the same as some no-mark scoby heading into town to deliberately use an improvised firearm to cause direct serious injury or worse to a Garda. I hope they fupp him good and proper with some nice offences against the state rap, Portlaoise, see ya.

            I don’t view what went down on Grafton Street as any kind of legitimate protest in the first place, it was pure pretence parade, it had no union, civil or political support, it served no purpose other than to goad and agitate and create a conflict where one doesn’t exist, it was a rioting excuse for a few mentallers plain and simple. a far close relative of scumbag firm events in football in the ’80’s and ’90’s than any protest march. anyone who did attend honestly should have left and if they didn’t deserved what they got.

          2. goldenbrown

            lol, that’s not the same thing and you know it, that’s borderline whataboutery there Giggidy

            isolated incidences like that of a resident standing ground outside their property to defend it against a crew of water meter installers doing things against their will and the will of the people are not the same as a protest march, definitely not the same as some no-mark scobys heading into town to deliberately use an improvised firearm to cause direct serious injury or worse to a Garda. I hope they fupp him good and proper with some nice offences against the state rap, Portlaoise, see ya.

            I don’t view what went down on Grafton Street as any kind of legitimate protest in the first place, idk what it was, pure pretence parade, it had no union, civil or political support, it served no purpose other than to goad and agitate and create a conflict where one doesn’t exist, it was a rioting excuse for a few mentallers plain and simple. a far closer relative of scumbag “firm” events in football in the ’80’s and ’90’s than any protest march. anyone who did attend honestly should have left and if they didn’t deserved what they got and should learn from it

            fupp off NP you are not welcome in my country, you’re not legitimate, not needed, not welcome, ok?

          3. GiggidyGoo

            Didn’t think you’d stoop that low GB. Your posts are generally reasonable. A new member of the Church of the Assumptions? NP?

            That type of thing does happen though when presented with a similar argument that negates the original one.

          4. Bitnboxy

            @GiggidyPox Would you give up this smoke and mirrors nonsense notvto mention the whataboutery, attempting to distort that which is an evidence. The vast majority of “attendees” at this match were primed and ready for violence.

            So go hawk your wares on Grift Media which is more to your taste.

            Oh and use some variation. I’m decidedly tired of your stock in trade phraseology “Church of the Assumption” strewn around like confetti. Mix it up!

      1. V aka Frilly Keane

        Just took a look at that thread
        eejit that I am

        The second tweet in – 95% White Men easily, and a clear view of a Siol Na Mc Loyalist Supporting Bigot’s Banner
        and mentions “authoritian lunatics”
        Yet cheers and parties with Siol na hEireann?

        the entire string promotes a massively unequal number of white males, under 40 ish – happy to correct if I’m wrong, same for my suggesting at a ratio of 20:1
        that is not a representative group of a Republic

        Far from it – that’s a lads on tour demo. Watch the last in video in the string. Muted. Millwall playing an away day……………

        Don’t try an cod us with Democracy, and Standing up for our Rights as Citizens, Calling out Corruption, Protecting Free Speech – heard all that before, and have the scars

        Everything in that String of tweets just shows what last Saturday really was, a gang teaming up with another Gang

  3. Johnny

    I’ve attended lots sports and music festivals/gigs/raves/illegal things where a few idiots also fired off fireworks/flares/lit things on fire……not looking for equivalence but this does feed into peoples preconceived bias,anyone not questioning this irish govt is in on this grift,or else captured.

    There are no mass vaccines coming or on the horizon for Ireland unless I’ve missed something,continuing lockdown is becoming untenable,resulting in civil unrest,with thugs and violent criminals hijacking peaceful protests.

    As a supporter of SF,I’ve seen many moving peaceful events where a few vocal anti GFA hardliners/head cases get portrayed as reflecting SF views,when they don’t.SF has spent an inordinate amount time and energy trying distance itself from flag draped thugs,because they sell papers and are used as click bait.

    I hope peaceful protests against this incompetent govt continue.

  4. Micko

    Claire sitting there holding the firework, talking about it reminded me of when Homer went to space.

    “ All hail the inanimate carbon rod!!!”

    Ah 2021… what more crazy stuff do you hold for us

  5. Rob_G

    Perhaps someone should fire a firework of the same make at Peter Blake’s face; maybe then he would not be so flippant about ti.

  6. V aka Frilly Keane

    ok so its not the hard left
    its the skangers

    fine, whatever yere’all having yerselves

    here’s what I know for sure
    The Irish National Party, The Irish Freedom Party and Yellow Vest Ireland were all active organisers and participants in the March last Saturday
    That’s a fact that can’t be hijacked, no matter how much ye all want to spin it

    So remember this folks
    Justin Barrett and his National Party have – more than once, so its not by accident, have said they want to bring back the Death Penalty
    This is the same party that have a Noose on their banners
    a f’ing noose

    Never, NEVER, did I think it would come to this

    Party on lads

    1. Daisy Chainsaw

      The Qanon Storm never happened, so Bodger needs some other conspiracy group to keep him warm at night.

      1. Junkface

        Didn’t it happen on Jan 6th when they stormed the capitol in Washington? I think since then many Qanon/Trump cultists found out that even he has thrown them under the bus, the ones who took part. Saying that it was secretly instigated by Antifa and Communists, but of course it was not. Like almost everything he says, its 100% lies.

      2. Rosette of Sirius

        Don’t count your chickens…. Any day now…. 4th of March….. It’s inevitable….

    2. f_lawless

      It’s almost as if members of the public feeling the brunt of highly destructive lockdown policy one year on have no agency of their own.

      The ad which was doing the rounds on social media prior to the march mentioned no political party affiliations, had no logos visible. There were no speeches made by the groups you mention nor were there any of their banners visible. Can you elaborate on what it is you “know for sure”? I get the impression you weren’t even there

      1. Brother Barnabas

        justin barrett is on record saying there were “large numbers” of NP members present

        1. GiggidyGoo

          And your opinion of Justin Barrett is? (Your answer should point to where you believe what he says in general)

          1. Bitnboxy

            Hmm one’s opinion of Justin Barrett?

            I am going with an ineffectual, gloriously camp, pot-bellied, prematurely aged goblin who should be the perfect panto-dame villan as opposed to his obsessing with all this fashy nonsense which is alas not going to make him taller or more of a man.

  7. Kdoc

    It seems all the top drawer leaders were AWOL on Saturday: Kelly, Gilroy, Miller, Croft, Barrett et al. Does anyone know why?

    1. Daisy Chainsaw

      Like Trump in the Capitol, they wound up the easily led skanger cohort and set them off, but kept their distance so they wouldn’t get arrested.

      1. eoin

        Thank God Bidens in office now. Back to legalized child trafficking and bombing the middle east and just….good old general corruption. Phew.

  8. Termagant

    what we have here is a chronic case of gurriers
    This wouldn’t be happening if we let the police beat fear into them from a young age, instead of setting appointments to liaise.

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