It was nothing like John Prescott v Craig Evans on the campaign trail of the 2001 British election, but a Government minister and a protester had something of a scuffle in NUIG on Tuesday night.
Some 50 students turned out at NUI Galway to mount a protest at an official visit by the Minister for Education Batt O’Keeffe, along with Fianna Fáil colleagues Frank Fahey and Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív.
The students sought to delay the ministers as they sought to enter the Quadrangle building to attend an official function. The students were protesting against Minister O’Keeffe’s controversial education cuts which could see the return of third level fees.
The protest was organised by the NUI Galway Students’ Union and Free Education for Everyone. It was also supported by the political parties in the university, including members of Fianna Fáil.
However the mood turned sour with Minister O’Keeffe alleged to have shoved students out of his way while Minister Ó Cuív was accused of forcefully grabbing one protester and manhandling him.
“It was absolutely appalling behaviour by the ministers, I was completely shocked,” said a Green Party member and NUIG student who was at the protest. “It was a completely peaceful protest. I couldn’t believe it when I saw Éamon Ó Cuív angrily grabbing hold of another student. If one of us had done that, we would be up in court. It was simply disgraceful.”
Minister Ó Cuív does not deny that he was involved in a confrontation with students. However he said he had to forcibly restrain a student to stop himself and his secretary being squashed into a corner as they were trying to enter a building.
Minister Ó Cuív said about 50 students came at him and his party in an aggressive manner, and charged them into the corner.
