The establishment Left’s attack on those opposing the placing of the proposed IPAS centre in Coolock was provided with a huge boost by the ill-conceived decision by a small number of unrepresentative people to join a loyalist protest in Belfast in August last year.
While their action was almost universally condemned by others involved in the Coolock protests, it was grist to the mill of an establishment quick to use it as a stick to beat not only the Coolock groups but anyone in other places questioning or protesting the placement of IPAS centres in their community.