*Over 150 Gardai smashed their way into Thomas Cook travel agency

August 5, 2009 by Infowars Ireland

www.indymedia.ie

DUBLIN, IRELAND – At 5 AM Tuesday morning, over 150 Gardai (Irish police) took part in an operation to remove Thomas Cook workers who had occupied the building. They sealed off the street, dragged peaceful demonstrators away from the front door, and smashed their way in with a battering ram.

First, around 25 Gardai marched up to the front door of the building. Over 150 Gardai followed them on foot and in riot vans. The latter placed metal barriers across the street, from Trinity College to the bottom of Grafton Street and more across the top of the street effectively sealing off the area. It’s estimated 50 to 60 Gardai manned each line of barriers.

About a dozen protesters were huddled together at the front of the building. When the Gardai arrived they immediately used force to remove the protesters even though all of them repeated the words ‘…this is a peaceful protest… ‘Women were dragged along the ground by their feet, and put into arm and wrist locks by Gardai twice their size. One man was punched as he sat on the ground by the front door.

Once the Gardai had managed to force the handful of demonstrators back, they immediately produced a battering ram and proceeded to break the door down by breaking the glass and also the doorframe.
Before they arrived there were a number of people inside, sleeping on the floor. It’s believed at least one pregnant lady was inside, and she was taken to the Coombe Hospital as she went into labour early.
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