Cowen 'bloodied' amid cuts angst
THE luxurious Westbury Hotel was not a likely setting for union leaders to froth at the mouth over government cutbacks.
But they gathered there to launch a campaign of action before making their way to a protest by some of the most poorly paid workers in the State. Over 8,000 people carried placards through Dublin city centre to the Dail in one of the biggest marches since the protests against the proposed removal of universal medical cards for the over-70s. The angst yesterday was directed by younger activists against another potential government hairshirt -- in the form of cuts in state-funded community services.
For the protest, Sinn Fein, the Socialist Workers Party, and Lisbon campaigners were joined by community workers from across Ireland.
They claimed An Bord Snip Nua's slash and burn proposals could cost up to 6,500 jobs. A large cutout of Brian Cowen's dismembered head, complete with fake blood, was held on a stake.
"One good cut," read a placard under the gory depiction of the Taoiseach.
Mr Cowen's was not the only head on a platter -- large, homemade hands held up the names of other hate figures, including Sean Fitzpatrick and Rody Molloy.
A community activist told the crowd she could keep her project going for six years on the expenses that John O'Donoghue racked up as Arts Minister. "We got nothing from the Celtic Tiger," she said. "We were in the litter tray and it's time we got out of it. Don't let them get away with it."
SIPTU leader Jack O'Connor told how Mr Cowen buckled when the bankers asked for a bail-out and now "idiots like you and me" would carry the risk for the rest of their lives.
- Anne-Marie Walsh and Patricia McDonagh
Irish Independent
