Video footage of protesters heckling and attempting to swarm around a car carrying President Michael D Higgins as he left a school in Finglas has been emerged.
President Higgins was leaving the grounds of Coláiste Eoin, a secondary school celebrating its 50th anniversary, when he was approached by the group last Friday.
The 73-year-old head of state, currently addressing the Council of Europe, was called a “little midget parasite” and “traitor” as the group convened to protest his signing into law the Water Services Bill in December.
The footage, posted below, comes from the ‘Dublin Says No’ advocacy group, and contains NSFW language.
A number of Gardaí held back the group from the presidential car, while protesters continued to pelt insults at the head of state and blow whistles. See the footage below:
In the video's description, the protesters claim that an Garda Síochána's actions throughout showed a lack of professionalism and training, with claims that an officer (at the two-minute mark) can be seen "launch[ing] something at the crowd gathered at a garden wall."
"They just aren't ment to deal with the public," the group claims.
