- Home >
- News >
- Irish News
Anti-vaxxers cause traffic chaos as they stage protest in Dublin City centre
It comes as the government announced new measures to help curb the spread of the virus
Anti-vaxxers have caused traffic chaos in Dublin City Centre today as they gathered outside the GPO causing parts of O’Connell street to be blocked off.
The demonstrators met at the Garden of Remembrance at 2pm before making their way to the GPO to protest against Covid restrictions.
Dublin Bus and Luas were hit with delays, and with much of O’Connell street impassable.
Hundreds of people showed up to the protest and marched down O’Connell Street holding banners that read 'Truth & Civil Rights' and 'Protect Children'.
Read more
One demonstrator held signs reading 'No to vaccine passports, freedom not fear'.
Many others waved Irish Republican flags and tricolours, while the crowd chanted “where there’s risk there must be choice” and “no discrimination".
“Hands off our kids, simply say no” was printed on another sign, protesting recent news that the Vaccine programme will now be extended to five to 11-year-olds.
Hundreds of people protest at an Anti Vaccine passport Protest through Dublin City Centre
Protesters gathered to hold a minute's silence for those who died and were harmed by lockdowns.
Guest speakers at the event accused the government of corruption and trying to control the lives of others. They also claimed anti-Covid measures were worse than the disease.
It comes as NPHET recommended further Covid restrictions in a bid to turn the tide on the current surge of cases.
The Pfizer vaccine has also been approved for use in children, as some new restrictions target curbing the spread of infection among five to 11 year olds.
Today the Department of Health announced there were 4,791 new cases of Covid-19 in Ireland.
At 8am on Saturday morning, there were 536 patients with Covid-19 in hospitals across Ireland, down 35 since the same time on Friday. 121 of these patients are receiving treatment in ICU, up three since the same time on Friday.
A new strain of the virus, Omicron, has also been detected in Europe. Two cases have been confirmed in the UK with other cases in Belgium and Germany.
Holland currently has 61 suspected cases after two planes of 600 passengers arrived into Amsterdam from the epicentre of the variant in South Africa.
Today's Headlines
inquest | Man (28) whose remains were found hidden in north Dublin wardrobe died of gunshot wounds
mansion battle | Claudine Keane ‘reduced to tears’ after OAP tenant stopped paying rent on £3.8m home
Latest | Chloe Mitchell: Man arrested as police continue to search for missing 21-year-old
Sicko | Kildare man (72) caught with thousands of child porn images and clips jailed for nine months
RIP | Dancing With the Stars pro Kerri-Anne Donaldson dies aged 38
threat to kill | Melanie McCarthy McNamara’s killer ‘snapped’ and threatened to slit prison officer’s throat
Shots fired | Gardai investigating drive-by shooting in Limerick City
Feud murder | Man goes on trial accused of being gunman who shot The Monk’s nephew Gareth Hutch
Horrific | Former X Factor star charged with murdering nine month old baby
radio ga ga | Former RTE 2fm radio DJ Nikki Hayes admits laundering €10,000 through bank account