Protestors who have maintained a presence outside a new IPAS development in Newtownmountkennedy, Co. Wicklow over the last six weeks say they feel as if they “do not have a voice” anymore after what they described as “a large number of balaclava clad workers” being “forced” onto the site at 2am this morning.
In a statement issued to Gript, the protest group said:
“As most of the country and, indeed, parts of the world are aware, the people of Newtownmountkennedy have for the last 6 weeks been holding a peaceful protest at a proposed IPAS site near the village. The protesters were concerned that the site was wholly unsuitable for tented accommodation, that the resources of the village were already stretched and that the site itself was, according to the latest land registry documents, held in trust for the village for educational or medical use only.”
The Department of Integration intends to house approximately 160 male asylum seekers in military style tents on the grounds of River Lodge which in bygone years was used as a respite facility for traveller children.
“Last week the police public order unit forced balaclava-clad workers onto the site using aggressive and intimidating tactics. The protestors, and indeed the whole country, were outraged that our legitimate peaceful protest had been ignored and bullied out of the way by the government. As a result, the workers were withdrawn and a meeting had been scheduled for next Monday with the site developer and senior gardaí to try to resolve the situation.” they group said.
Last week Gript reported on the unfolding scenes from outside River Lodge.
Female protester says she was "manhandled" and "pushed" by Garda public order unit at 'Newtownmountkennedy Says No' protest. pic.twitter.com/Ma3MWCtekY
— gript (@griptmedia) April 15, 2024
The protestors say that this morning at 2am “a large contingent of local gardai, once again supported by the public order unit, forced a large number of balaclava clad workers and their equipment onto the site. The protestors remained calm in spite of this deliberate provocation.”
“This action shows the utter contempt and disregard minister O’Gorman and the government have for the people of Newtown and the Irish population as a whole. A legitimate peaceful protest has once again simply been brushed aside, without any regard for genuine concerns, and in complete contempt of the laws of the land.” they say.
“It would appear that we simply do not have a voice any more. The government simply does not care – for our communities, for our laws and for our people.”
During the scenes that unfolded this morning a number of protestors fell to their knees and began to recite the Rosary in front of the line of public order unit Garda officers.
As Gript previously reported the public order unit was deployed at the scene Monday last week.
As the Garda Public Order Unit descends on Newtownmountkennedy, here's Fatima Gunning's report on the escalating tensions from last night pic.twitter.com/GzxPgDaLIw
— gript (@griptmedia) April 15, 2024
Gript contacted the Department of Integration asking what the role of the masked men is and if it is part of their policy to use masked workers. At the time of publication we are yet to receive a response and will update this article should we receive one.