FEE activist 'manhandled' by minister at NUI Galway protest

by tbnuig Thu Feb 05, 2009 22:54

I was not at this event but was at the event in the University on Monday. I just want to say that the way certain members of FEE behaved last Monday upon the arrival of former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was absolutely appalling and brought shame on the University and in particular on the individuals that behaved in such a way. I have my issues with Bertie Ahern and the re-introduction of fees but he should not have been stopped from speaking. If those that prevented him from addressing the people that waited in line to hear him had serious grievances with him then they should have behaved like grown adults in a democratic society and let him speak and take their issues up with him. Every individual has the right to freedom of expression, including Bertie Ahern! Every individual also has the right to receive and impart information....we respected the rights of FEE to what should have been a peaceful protest and they should have respected others right to hear Mr. Ahern speak!

by Steve Sun Dec 14, 2008 00:57

Yes, idiots, i.e. people who can't afford to spend thousands a year on education. Don't ya love tabloid logic?

by Educated Opinion Fri Dec 12, 2008 23:33

Firstly on the Matter of the protest in NUIG, what sort of total no brainers would protest at the announcement of a €50 million investment in the college?? Its not the action that anyone who is actually educated would summon. I dont like the prospect of introducing fees but I can see that is a good way of eliminating the presence of idiots in colleges. It is done in other countries and works perfectly, so why not do it here? We are officially in a recession, the government should put the money they will receive in fees into the economy to stabilise it and voila there will be jobs for people when they graduate!! What good is a degree if the economy cannot sustain jobs for people. And of course people who dont seem to benefit from an education (protestors) can take their rightful place in society.

by Educated Opinion Fri Dec 12, 2008 23:28

Firstly on the Matter of the protest in NUIG, what sort of total no brainers would protest at the announcement of a €50 million investment in the college?? Its not the action that anyone who is actually educated would summon. I dont like the prospect of introducing fees but I can see that is a good way of eliminating the presence of idiots in colleges. It is done in other countries and works perfectly, so why not do it here? We are officially in a recession, the government should put the money they will receive in fees into the economy to stabilise it and voila there will be jobs for people when they graduate!! What good is a degree if the economy cannot sustain jobs for people. And of course people who dont seem to benefit from an education (protestors) can take their rightful place in society.

by Was there Thu Dec 11, 2008 12:13

bedpan, it wasn't aggressive. O'Cuiv stated 50 students crowded around him. The pictures prove that not even half that amount stood in front of the doors, at the last one there was an even fewer number (mostly due to the difficulties of getting to it) and that was when he grabbed hold of a student and shook him.

Fine, maybe in China we'd all be lined up and shot but I heard we lived in a country where peaceful demonstrators were not pushed around the place.

by bedpan Thu Dec 11, 2008 05:13

If you crowd up towards somebody it is quite reasonable for the person to interpret the body language as a threat. Did they expect O'Cuiv to smile at them and say Howdy? In China the police and bodyguards might have opened fire. Or in Greece maybe. Don't bother thinking about North Korea, where there's a nuclear option.

by Joseph - FEE Thu Dec 11, 2008 04:16

I was there,hats important to note is that Batt O'Keefe was there too and he got a worse reception. When he was tring to get in 20 FEE members stood in his way, peacefully, until he started to push into us with the Gardai behind him. This lasted for about 5 minutes, until a gap formed in our blockade and he squeezed through only to trip up on reaching the door! Concerning Eamon O'Cuiv, not one person threatened him or even noticed his secretary, he turned to violence, he turned to lies, it is he ho is lookin pathetic out of this. My only regret - WE DIDN'T STOP BATT TALKING. To be fair we only found out he was coming on Monday evening, but we organised fast, even though many of FEE's members were sitting exams. This is just the start, from now on, NUIG IS A NO- FIANNA FAIL TD ZONE.

by Godot - FEE Wed Dec 10, 2008 22:15

from Sin (NUI Galways student paper)

by Emma B Wed Dec 10, 2008 16:05

The photos were taken by Kevin O'Connor. O' Cuiv arrived in a taxi rather than his merc. The recession seems to be hitting everyone.

“The secretary was squashed up against the wall with students kicking her and one of them waving a big stick at her,” http://breakingnews.ie/ireland/mhidsnsnkfmh/