Dozens of demonstrators have turned out for a protest in Dublin city centre following the murder of Sarah Everard in London.
The “Reclaim the Streets” protest, organised by feminist group ROSA in tribute to the murdered 33-year-old, took place despite a ban on gatherings under Level 5 restrictions.
Those attending attempted to stay two metres apart and all wore face masks.
Gardaí took the details of those who attended, due to restrictions on non-essential travel. The attendees may now face fines.
Former TD Ruth Coppinger said the Garda intervention was unnecessary: “I mean we have the street marked out, this is one of the widest streets in the country.
“People are wearing facial coverings, people are socially distancing, people are obviously being extremely safe,” she added.
“It’s not a huge protest, it’s for a limited duration. The gardaí really should have better things to be doing.”
Activist with ROSA, Emma Quinn, said the protestors consider the demonstration an essential one.
“A report from the European Fundamental Rights Agency said that 83 per cent of women change the way they live, change the way they walk, change the way they move every day, so in reality women have restrictions their whole life,” she said.
“So this for us is an essential protest, and we will be looking for people to support us who want to raise the issue, who want the politicians to prioritise it.”
The Dublin gathering was the first in a series of planned “Reclaim the Streets” demonstrations by ROSA. Further protests are due to be held in Cork, Limerick and Galway on Thursday.
