Achill truck crashes into Dáil gates

Achill truck crashes into DΡil gates


Anton McNulty

AN 41-year-old Achill man remains in garda custody in Dublin after he attempted to drive a cement truck through the gates of Leinster House.
The incident took place this morning at approximately 7am when the truck with the words ‘Toxic Bank Anglo’ displayed on the drum was driven up Molesworth Street and parked at the entrance to DΡil Éireann. The words ‘all politicians should be sacked’ was also written on a billboard on the back of the truck. No one was injured in the incident and minor damage was caused to the gates of Leinster House.
Although the name of the arrested man has not been released, it is widely believed to be Joseph McNamara, a Galway based developer from Achill. He was arrested at the scene and is currently being questioned at Pearse Street Garda Station under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.
His protest and arrest has been the matter of much debate with a number of callers to RTÉ Radio’s Liveline programme supporting his actions and calling for his release. A number of protesters have gathered outside the DΡil as part of a European day of action.
Initial attempts to remove the truck from the scene were unsuccessful because brake lines and electric cables were believed to have been cut. However it was removed from the scene using a large recovery tow truck.
Onlookers said all the windows on the lorry were covered in metal grids and had been smashed, with the doors of the cabin welded shut. It appeared the driver escaped through a hatch on the roof before being arrested.
A similar incident took place in Galway last April when a cement truck with similar wording on it, was abandoned outside a branch of Anglo Irish Bank on Forster Street.