MINISTER JEERED:MINISTER FOR Finance Brian Lenihan was heckled by members of an anti-Lisbon Treaty group at the RDS yesterday, interrupting his interview with reporters.
Mr Lenihan arrived at the RDS shortly after noon to see how the tally was going and to give his first reaction on how the result was shaping up.
However, as he answered questions from the media, some 20 members of Cóir, the group closely aligned with the anti-abortion group Youth Defence, started loudly chanting anti-Lisbon slogans.
As the chanting grew louder, Mr Lenihan said it was becoming difficult to speak before referring to the treaty being opposed by extreme left- and extreme right- wing elements.
"One of the first things they do is suppress speech," he said.
As he moved out of the hall, he was followed by the same group of hecklers, who continued to chant slogans at him.
The spokeswoman for Cóir, Niamh Uí Bhriain, who was among the group who followed the Minister, dismissed the criticism, saying that people who had worked for many months for a No vote were celebrating, which was their right in a democracy.
"I do not think they shouted anybody down. They were delighted with a No vote.
"There is going to be a No vote despite the fact that the Irish people were bullied unmercifully by Brian Lenihan and by his colleagues over the last few weeks," Ms Uí Bhriain added.
