Protest outside Roderick O' Gormans home - read OP before posting

ah would you stop the scaremongering you sound as bad as the nutjobs outside o gormans last night just on the other side of the fence. Democracy is not under any threat you would think it was the night of the long knives the way you are blowing it up.

This behaviour is horrible, and the Gardai should have forcibly removed the people within minutes.

I say this as a person who thinks ROG actions to invite bogus AS here is near-treasonous.

But they weren’t being made to cover their faces. in this instance, they chose to cover their faces.

If these guys are so hard why don't they actually enter the house and evict Roderic out onto the street, it would free up a house for the homeless. Instead pointing the finger and blaming migrants is just cowards work. Also Gardaí again proving they don't care one iota about racism.

A few things on what has happened and the rise of this type of behaviour. As with others above, my position is protesting at someone's home is abhorrent and in fact should be outlawed. By all means protest outside the Dail and the constituency offices but laying siege to peoples homes (where other family members who have nothing to do with the individuals profession may reside) is the lowest of the low. Wearing masks too is another sig of sheer cowardice. At least if you're going to be a scumbag, own it and don't be a coward. The fact that you cover your face means you know what you are doing is wrong.

Many here are theorising as to what has lead us here. Misinformation etc is blamed, but whilst this is true to an extent it is not the root cause in my opinion. It is a symptom of the failure of the government to:

1. Listen to the concerns of genuine individuals.
2. Govern for the good of the electorate.
3. Communicate their position better. If they truly believe what they are doing is for the better of the country explain why. Our political elite, now just brand any concerns regarding immigration control as "far right rhetoric". They are incapable of debate and selling an idea to the people. Instead they attempt to use coercive language and soundbites that alienate people with opposing views. It's either vote for this, agree with that, or you're a <insert branding with negative connotations here>.

In my opinion the are failing large sections of the population in the above regard. With regards to the governments deflections that all the wrongs of society are down to the mythical "far right", they have ironically given fuel to that fire. If ordinary people are branded something they are not for voicing an opinion that the government don't agree with and goes against policy, then you leave the door open for these people to seek refuge amounts others, who claim to represent their fears. It seems our current crop of politicians are the same fragile types I used to see in Student Unions down through the years who are only used to echo chambers and are aghast at the great unwashed questioning their intellectual superiority. ROG, is a classic case of someone like this.

This is my thoughts as someone who is generally a centre left voter. I'm against religion in schools, believe in a woman's right to choose, voted in favour of both repeal the 8th and SSM. I believe immigration enriches society but there has to be a common sense approach to it. I believe in the welfare state and that we should always look after those of us who cannot look after ourselves. With all that said this lot has lost me and in some ways it's not even their political ideology, it's their sheer arrogance and lack of empathy for the people that they are elected to represent that angers me the most.

Peaceful protest? That's not peaceful protests. It's intimidation.

Yes. Not "targeting" - abusing/threatening/intimidating

ah well. Thanks

It's not just ROG himself, that must be very intimidating for all his neighbours too. I certainly wouldn't like scumbags in balaclavas outside my home.

SF transfers elected McDowell in the early 2000s

I'm no fan of O'Gorman, but this type of activity is not on, his constituency clinic, the Dail etc are acceptable places of protest, but this isn't. The contrast with the policing of these protests and say eviction protests or more the Debenhams pickets has been widely commented upon, the approach of AGS is very standoffish and that seems to have emboldened the far-right elements behind the protests.

The wrong people with the wrong ideology are protesting. But this suits the establishment fine, prevents the rest of us from protesting as we wouldn't want to be associated with racists.

Good thread on Rodders here