22 January 1998 Edition

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Protesters disrupt anti-refugee meetings

By Marcas Mac Ruairí

An anti-immigration group, whose inaugural meeting in Ennis last week was disrupted by Anti-Fascist Action, plans to hold a meeting in Dublin this week.

The meeting in the Clare town had been organised by former PD's member Aine Ní Chonaill, who has moved on to found the Immigration Control Platform which seeks to prevent refugees from finding sanctuary in Ireland.

Joining local people on the protest was Sinn Féin Shannon Town Commissioner, Mick McKee, along with party colleagues from Clare and Cork city, members of both Amnesty International and the Irish Refugee Council.

With such a strong protest, the meeting degenerated into a farcical shoutng match, and a number of local people drinking in a bar downstairs joined in for the enterntainment value.

Following a stand-off for about half an hour, the ICP was provided with a small room and hotel security to hold a private meeting. However, Anti Fascist Action managed to explode stink bombs in this room, ensuring that it did not proceed in comfort.

An Phoblacht
44 Parnell Sq.
Dublin 1
Ireland