Gardaí have appealed for information about an anti-mask protest on the Luas earlier this month. Video of the protest was shared widely on social media. Far-right, anti-mask rallies have become common place in recent months.
On more than one occasion the protestors have attacked left-wing counter-protestors and activists.
Witnesses
Gardaí have said they want to speak to people who “travelled on the Red Luas line on Monday afternoon 2nd November, 2020 between Heuston Station stop and Jervis Street stop”. According to the Garda Press Office,
The incident occurred at approximately 4.30pm and was shared on social media when a group of individuals travelled on the Luas Red line, wearing no face coverings and engaged in unruly and offensive behaviour towards other passengers.
Anybody with information should contact Kevin Street Garda Station in Dublin or contact the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111 about the anti-mask protest.
Intimidation
In video of the incident that was posted online, a number of known far right, anti-mask activists could be seen on the Luas Red Line without masks. They berated passengers who wore masks and challenged them to remove them.
The anti-mask group also appeared to harass a woman after they got off the Luas. In the video posted by The Beacon, the woman in question follows them and asks why they were harassing them. At one point in the video one of the group seemed to try to push her onto the Luas tracks.
Prior run-ins
One of the protestors has been identified as Graham Carey. The Dublin man is one of the organisers of the various anti-mask protests that have taken place in the last few months.
Gardaí have detained Carey twice in recent weeks. On 25 October he was stopped by gardaí and arrested due to an outstanding bench warrant while on his way to an anti-mask rally he organised.
And just this last weekend he was again stopped by gardaí for erratic driving. Carey was suspected of driving under the influence of drugs. He refused to provide a sample and was detained while they took a blood sample. Gardaí released him pending the results of the drugs test.
Featured image via Flickr – William Murphy
