Protestors scuffle with police at Irish parliament

Irish police clash with protestors at the gates of the Irish parliament

Protestors stormed the gates of the Irish parliament, the Dail, in Dublin on Tuesday evening, angry at Irish government bail-outs for the banks.

About 500 people took part in a rally to demonstrate their anger at the government's plans to inject billions of euro into the banks.

A group of about 100 people broke away from the peaceful protest and tried to force their way through the iron gates of Leinster House.

Police with batons forced them back.

It's understood one man suffered a head injury and one police officer suffered a facial injury.

No arrests were made.

The march was organised by the "Right to Work Campaign", sponsored by the Unite trade union.

Several speakers hit out at the Irish government's handling of the economic crisis.

Richard Boyd Barrett, of the People Before Profit Alliance, said there had to be a movement of opposition to the Irish Government.

"They (the Government) are bailing out the banks and the institutions and the elite that caused the crisis and they are asking ordinary people, senior citizens, young people to pay the price with brutal cutbacks and it's just not acceptable and people are here to say we're going to stop this and we want an alternative," he said.

Mr Boyd Barrett said he did not see the scuffle and called for peaceful protest.

But he added: "I think it is quite reasonable for people to vent anger against this Government and to say why is Dail Eireann not reflecting the interests of the people?"