Clashes Break Out between Anti-Lockdown, Anti-Mask Protesters in Dublin (+Video)
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A fight broke out at a protest in Dublin, Ireland, where campaigners were protesting against further lockdowns and wearing face masks.
The demonstration was organized by the protest group Health Freedom Ireland in conjunction with the Yellow Vests Ireland.
Hundreds congregated outside Custom House Quay from 2pm this past Saturday, August 22, the Irish Post reported.
There was no social distancing while the majority of those in attending also opted not to wear any form of face mask or face covering.
The protests were led by anti-vaccination campaigners Maeve Murran and Kelly Johnson.
A statement released by Health Freedom Ireland said demonstrators were protesting the “insistence on using the store-provided hand sanitizers, even when people bring their own” and “discussion of social distancing, mask wearing and other measures in school."
Professor Dolores Cahill was one of several speakers who addressed the crowd.
The current vice chair of the Scientific Committee of the Innovative Medicines Initiative, Professor Cahill was recently asked to resign from her post over several claims made about the pandemic.
She was one of several speakers to denounce Ireland’s current COVID-19 restrictions which were criticized as both unconstitutional and unnecessary.
The wearing of face masks was also branded “idiotic” with one speaker even suggesting there was no evidence that wearing face coverings offer any kind of protection against coronavirus.
They called on the government to make the wearing of masks a matter of choice for the people of Ireland.
A small counter-protest took place on Butt Bridge while there was also a Garda presence at the event.
Gardaí also confirmed to RTÉ that four men were arrested.
One was arrested for a breach of the peace and two of the men were remanded for public order offences.
The fourth man was arrested for possession of an offensive weapon.
