Minister calls cops to house protest
»»Activists slammed for holding protest outside minister’s house »»Harris thanks gardai who kept his wife and 3-week-old baby safe
SIMON Harris called in gardai to protect his wife and baby daughter as anti-austerity protesters marched on his home yesterday.
More than two dozen members of the Fingal Battalion Direct Action Group converged on the Health Minister’s door – but dispersed by the time gardai arrived.
The protesters warned on Facebook: “Today we launch the campaign #bringittotheirdoors.”
Urging others to get involved, they said: “It can be your local TD, councillors, sheriffs, judges, anybody that played a part in bringing austerity, corruption, evictions on the people of Ireland.”
However, as efforts continued last night to avoid a three-day nurses strike due to start tomorrow, many leapt to the embattled minister’s defence.
And it emerged his wife Caoimhe and three-week-old daughter Saoirse were inside their home in Greystones, Co Wicklow, at the time.
Campaigners posted a video on Facebook in which they accused Mr Harris of “completely neglecting” his position and lacking the qualifications for the job.
It added: “We’re all aware of the smear test scandal, thousands of patients on trolleys, the medical cannabis bill, the extravagant costs of the new children’s hospital and the nurses strike, who we fully support.
“Simon is part of Fine Gael, the party who voted for the eviction bill and are aware of the hundreds of people sleeping on our streets every night.”
However, the protest was branded “shameful” as it caused an explosive reaction online.
One person said: “I don’t like the guy at all but it’s a disgrace to bring it to their home with a three-week-old baby... all you have done is made yourselves look like a bunch of idiots intimidating a baby and mother... f ***** g shameful tactics.”
Anti-eviction campaigner David Hall tweeted: “This is not acceptable behaviour at all.”
Fianna Fail Senator Lorraine Cliffordlee added: “Disgusting. Protest at the Dail or his constituency office. Politicians’ homes are off limits!!”
Fine Gael TD Noel Rock said: “This isn’t on and should be condemned by all who favour democracy.”
And former Mrs Brown’s Boys star Rory Cowan added: “This is dreadful. @Simonharristd has a wife and a new baby at home.”
A Garda spokeswoman said protesters left the scene peacefully and inquiries will be carried out.
A Department of Health spokesperson added: “The minister would like to thank An Garda Siochana for their assistance and in ensuring his wife and daughter’s safety. He has no further comment to make at this time.”
Disgusting. Protest at the
Dail or his constituency office. Politicians’ homes are off limits LORRAINE CLIFFORD-LEE FIANNA FAIL SENATOR YESTERDAY