Lord Mayor of Dublin Hazel Chu says it was ‘surreal and uncomfortable’ to have protesters demonstrating outside her home.
The Green Party councillor says a planned event at the Mansion House yesterday was ‘hijacked’ by far-right groups.
Lord Mayor Chu says she was then called names by some of the demonstrators when she stepped outside the residence.
Up to 30 people protested outside the residence, and one person was arrested.
Gardaí say they arrested a woman in her 40s who was protesting on Dawson Street, following persistent lack of compliance with public health regulations.
She was taken to Pearse Street Garda Station, but has since been released and issued with a fine.
The protest has been criticised by a number of other politicians, with Sinn Féin's Daithí Doolan saying it was 'totally unacceptable' and that the mayor has his party's 'ongoing support and solidarity'.
On today’s Lunchtime Live, the Lord Mayor explained what happened.
An annual event of the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) was due to take place at the Mansion House, with just four people able to attend this year due to the lockdown restrictions.
However, Lord Mayor Chu said those plans was ‘hijacked’ after details were circulated among far-right groups.
She explained: “This is nothing against the event organisers - they are always more than welcome here annually.
“I felt really bad for them, because in the end the guards had to move their four people along to St Stephen’s Green. It was absolutely hijacked.”
The issues arose when other protesters arrived at the site.
Lord Mayor Chu said: “A few people arrived… four or five… and then they started saying very specific things to me… like I’m going to turn into a shape-shifting dragon.
“More of them arrived then… there were around 30 people.
“The guards were here. It was uncomfortable, some of the interactions. But I didn’t feel unsafe, or I was at risk or danger.
“My worry, however, is for my child. I don’t want to overegg it, but I don’t want to downplay it.
“When there are people outside your home when you’re bringing your child to the car or going outside for a walk… it’s a really odd feeling to adapt to all of a sudden.”
'Protest respectfully'
Lord Mayor Chu said her daughter Alex wasn’t in the house at the time, as she was at a creche for the day.
However, the Green politician said she’s always concerned about what her daughter might see or hear during such demonstrations.
Lord Mayor Chu - who was born in Ireland to Chinese parents - has frequently spoken about how she's constantly targeted by people questioning her Irishness.
She said: “I have no issue with people protesting - they need to do it social distancing and following guidelines, but everyone has a right to. But I do have an issue with perhaps people at people’s homes
“If people have issues with me and my policies or what I do in office… absolutely. But I don’t need people calling me names like ‘shape-shifting dragon’.”
The Lord Mayor said she ‘would be lying’ if she said such experiences hadn’t somewhat tainted her experience in the role, although it remains a ‘massive honour’.
She urged anyone protesting against her to do it respectfully.
She said: “I would say to people if you have an issue with me, I’m more than happy that you address those issues if they are specific issues not to do with my ethnic minority or skin colour - mainly because I can’t change those for you.
“However, if you have an issue with my policy or what I’m doing with my job, bring it to my attention. If you disagree, protest yes… but I would ask you to do it respectfully, and be mindful of the fact that this is somewhere I’m living with my child.
"I don’t mind her seeing protests, but I do mind when things are being shouted at her mother that she can’t change at all.”
She added that while it didn't happen yesterday, there have been previous occasions where Alex herself was called names.
