WE'VE HAD ENOUGH

20,000 said to have taken to city streets. Government must do more, say protesters

- MICHELLE FLEMING

 

LITTLE Maisie Randle screamed at the top of her lungs waving a hand-written placard that read ‘Do It For My Future’ as she led a protest through Dublin yesterday.

“I’m very sad because homeless people don’t have homes or some where to sleep,” said eight-year-old Maisie, who has spina bifida, pushed along in her wheelchair by granny and grandad, Phil and Carol Wilson.

“If I speak and shout out, I can get them somewhere to live. I have a home. People are hungry but some have food and no homes.”

Phil, a general engineer from Ballymun, said: “This Government just doesn’t have a clue, on €100,000-plus expenses and giving themselves pay rises?

“They don’t worry about the ESB bill coming in. They’re not tuned into normal people. People have had enough of them.”

CROWDS

Furious pensioners, families, workers, political groups and campaigners began to assemble at the Garden of Remembrance and the crowds continued to swell until the march set off at 3pm down O’Connell Street en route to Merrion Square.

Cost of Living Coalition organisers claimed 20,000 took part, and while that figure was not independently verified, numbers grew significantly as the procession moved down O’Connell Street.