‘Anglo Avenger’ acquitted of Dáil protest

‘Anglo Avenger’ acquitted of DΡil protest


Anton McNulty

An Achill native who protested outside DΡil Éireann with a cement truck has been acquitted of all charges against him at yesterdays sitting of Dublin District Court.
Joe McNamara of Dun na Carraige, Blackrock, Co Galway but originally from Achill Island was arrested outside the DΡil when he drove his concrete mixer truck towards the gates of Leinster House on September 29 last.
He appeared before yesterday’s (Monday) sitting of Dublin District Court charged with offences relating to the incident which included criminal damage and dangerous driving. He was acquitted of all charges and walked from court saying he was very pleased with the outcome.
The 41-year-old property developer gained national attention last September when he drove his cement mixer truck to the gates of Leinster House in an early morning protest. His actions took gardaí by surprise and he was able to unfold a banner at the bank of the truck with the words ‘The people have had enough, All politicians have been sacked with immediate effect, Power to the People’.
The drum of the truck was painted red and white with the slogan ‘Toxic Anglo Bank’ painted on the drum while ‘€1,000,000 on golf balls’ and ‘€500k for golf’ were also displayed on the truck.
When gardaí arrived he was arrested and when he appeared in court his solicitor said it was ‘a legitimate protest at what he believed to have been his unfair treatment at the hands of the banks’. At the time it emerged that he owes over €3 million to Anglo Irish Bank and his anger comes from Anglo threatened to put his business into receivership after his repayments failed to cover the interest payments.
Within hours of the incident, Joe McNamara had become a cult hero to many people and was dubbed the ‘anglo avenger’ and ‘Joe the Trucker’ whose actions were to some an inspiration. At yesterdays court several garda witnesses gave evidence, before Judge Anne Walkin acquitted Mr McNamara on all charges.