“he was roaring and shouting, then he threw a punch” - local grandmother condemns far-right in Tallaght

Counter Demonstration from the local community and People Before Profit members in solidarity with the nurses and doctors targeted by far right agitators

Far-right agitators recently targeted Tallaght Hospital nurses and doctors with a protest at the hospital. When local members of the community stood up to them, the far-right started threatening the locals and getting violent.

Rupture spoke to Barbara, a grandmother from Tallaght who was there and has reported to the Gardaí that one of the far-right protesters punched her.

Q: Could you tell us about the recent far-right visit to protest outside Tallaght Hospital?

Barbara: A small group of anti-vax conspiracy theorists showed up outside the hospital. We saw online they had planned hold a protests at Tallaght hospital and were thinking of trying to enter the hospital to harass hospital workers, nurses and doctors. I’m living in Tallaght myself and together with others from the community, and people in PBP, we decided to oppose them and prevent them entering the hospital and harassing, intimidating all our healthcare workers and hospital staff

Q: Why were they protesting at Tallaght Hospital?

B: They had placards claiming doctors murder for money, and that vaccines are killing people and other general far-right stuff like anti-trans signs etc. All the usual conspiracy nonsense. 

They were handing out leaflets with false information on it. We got our hands on one of them and when we read it contained all the false bullshite off the internet, also they had a fake €20 notes to fool people into thinking they were getting free money. They had to stoop to this because they knew the community and healthcare workers would not take their leaflets. Even at that only a handful of people driving in and out did take them and that's only because they were confused about what was going on. All the members of the community made it clear to them they were not welcome in the area.

Q: How did it go?

B: Well, at the peak there were about 30 of them and about 60 or more of us. They had to abandon any thoughts of going into the hospital. Instead, they decided to blast crazy loud music on a big speaker also, total madness and intimidating to patients, adults and children and doctors, nurses and hospital staff coming and going. And they were blaring their mad music right outside a hospital were there people who are seriously ill. They also held placards  saying “Doctors are killing patients for money”.

Q: How did they respond when they saw locals out defending the health workers?

B: They became aggressive towards us, getting into people faces as we prevented them entering the hospital and stood in front of them to protect the staff and patients coming and going. One in particular was very aggressive towards us. He came over and started getting in people’s faces and pushing people. He was roaring and shouting then threw a punch resulting in him punching myself in the face, it was clearly visible to everyone  he had hit me and I was in pain but this did not deter him from continuing  threaten to punch my face in. 

I have clear video footage of all their threatening, violent, disgusting behaviour. I had to receive medical attention, I am a 54 year old grandmother in remission from cancer and had  treatment, major surgery last December and yet he couldn't care less who he assaulted. 

Q: I hope you’re doing better now, are there any final comments you’d like to give?

B: These thugs are a danger to our community specially our women and children and  we must let them know and make it very clear to these aggressive outsiders coming into our communities spreading hate, fear, racism that they will not be tolerated and they will not be welcomed. We need to have strong and safe counter protests against them as much as possible. They cannot have free rein to continue to do intimate people. 

I have made a statement to the Garda and handed over all this footage and hopefully they will catch him and prevent this dangerous violent thug assaulting anyone else!