In August I noted a report of an assault on anti-circus protesters in Dublin, Ireland. Irish newspaper The People has published a more detailed account of the attack.
According to activists with the Ireland-based Alliance for Animal Rights, a group of men approached the activists as they protested outside the Circus Vegas in Castleknock, Dublin. The Alliance for Animal Rights’ Bernie Wright told The People,
A group of men approached us and started verbally abusing us. One of them lashed out with his fists at Ciaran [Long]. He suffered heavy bleeding and facial injuries which needed stitching in James Connolly Memorial Hospital. After this all hell broke loose and the rest of the group went for us and grabbed a video camera that we had with us. I myself was punched and kicked and received cuts to my hands. One of our group then managed to break away and phoned the ambulance and Gardai.
One man has been arrested and charged in the incident. If convicted, lets hope he serves a nice long stint in jail — there’s simply no place for such violence.
Source:
Protester is attacked by vicious thug. Tom Prendeville, The People, August 29, 2004.