Ireland's Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has condemned a protest outside the Dublin home of Ireland's Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth Roderic O'Gorman as "disgusting."
Footage circulated on social media on Thursday night, April 18, of masked protesters gathering outside O'Gorman's home.
Several banners were hung in front of O'Gorman's home, with one large one saying "South Dublin Says No Close The Borders" and another saying "Minister O'Gorman Hates Children."
An Garda Síochána told IrishCentral on Friday that Gardaí in Blanchardstown responded to reports of a public gathering, involving a small group of individuals outside a private residence in the Blanchardstown area, shortly after 8 pm on Thursday.
"A Garda presence was maintained at the scene until the group dispersed a short time later," the statement said.
"Gardaí are investigating any alleged criminal activity which may have occurred during this incident. No arrests have been made at this time.
"Gardaí from the DMR West Community Policing Unit have engaged with and continue to provide support to local residents.
"An Garda Síochána does not comment on the security arrangements of any individual or group.
"Matters of security, including those that pertain to the safety, security, and welfare of public representatives, remain under continuous review."
O'Gorman has not publicly commented on the incident.
While no arrests were made, Ireland's Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said on Friday that she had spoken to Garda Commissioner Drew Harris about the incident.
"Minister O’Gorman’s privacy and property have been violated in a disgusting and shocking manner," McEntee said in a post on X on Friday.
"I’ve spoken to the Garda commissioner. This cannot be tolerated."
Minister O’Gorman’s privacy and property have been violated in a disgusting and shocking manner. I’ve spoken to the Garda commissioner. This cannot be tolerated.
— Helen McEntee TD (@HMcEntee) April 19, 2024
Taoiseach Simon Harris said he is "deeply uncomfortable" that the protest was allowed to develop outside somebody's home.
Speaking to the media in Carlow on Friday, Harris described the protest as chilling and disgusting.
"I spoke to Minister O’Gorman about this situation this morning," Harris told reporters.
"I was utterly horrified to see this situation.
"We all recognize the right to protest in a democracy but when you see masked people gathering outside somebody’s family home, I think that’s extraordinarily chilling, disturbing, and quite frankly disgusting."
Harris said he did not wish to interfere with how gardaí assess and handle such situations.
"However, I feel deeply uncomfortable, deeply uncomfortable, that this situation was allowed to develop outside the home of any person, public figure or otherwise, government or opposition, and I hope in due course to have an opportunity to discuss this with the gardaí," Harris said.
"I think it is worrying, I think it is concerning. Of course, we see political debate and discourse but there is an appropriate way to debate and raise issues. We do it in the Dáil, in council chambers."
Harris pointed out that there are plenty of places to protest around the Dáil and constituency offices.
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