Joe Hit and Run
Working Class Action
Press Report: Collins Avenue scare transforms bin tax protest
Northside People - 21st October 2003
JOE Mooney's lucky escape from death last week has strengthened the bond between anti-bin tax protesters and bin workers, claimed a Ballymun man who witnessed the shocking development.
Supporters of the anti-bin tax campaign at Dublin City Council's waste collection depot in Glasnevin looked on in horror last Tuesday (October 14) as a campaign leader was carried precariously on the bonnet of a fast moving council truck for nearly 50 metres.
Retired grandfather Jimmy Leonard (53), from Coultry Drive in Ballymun, was at his first anti-bin tax protest when the incident happened. He saw East Wall campaign co-ordinator Joe Mooney, a member of Working Class Action, fall from the truck at Collins Avenue.
Mr Mooney and Mr Leonard had joined campaigners from Fingal, Ballymun, East Wall and Coolock at the depot in concert with blockades against the taxes at all seven Dublin waste depots. Mr Leonard claims the incident aggravated a peaceful demonstration when the truck burst through the crowd.
He told The Northside People: ‘The driver used his truck as a battering ram. We weren't obstructing anyone and only planned to stay until 10am when we were to move onto the GPO [at O'Connell Street] for a mass rally [of all seven protest groups]. The incident happened about 8.30am. He went straight through the crowd. I heard people roaring at him not to charge ahead, but he accelerated.’
‘I was standing in the laneway. He went into three people. Joe Mooney was standing in the middle [at the front of the truck], so his only option was to hold on as the driver accelerated through red lights.’
The constitution of the protest and the disposition of campaigners was instantly transformed from this moment on, he states. ‘A garda pulled up in a squad car and approached us at 10.15am. I told him it was a peaceful protest. He said, 'It's not a peaceful protest any more', explains Mr Leonard.
‘I was supposed to leave to take my grand daughter to school, but this driver antagonised the situation. We then decided to have a full protest.’
‘His colleagues were cursing him for his action and they joined us in protest, in solidarity at what happened.’ He added: ‘There wasn't a lot of anger there that morning until this happened.’
Council workers, according to Mr Leonard, made tea for protesters and provided use of the depot's facilities as a sign of support, following the incident with Mr Rooney, who was brought to Beaumont Hospital for examination.
Joe Mooney returned on crutches to the Collins Avenue depot the following day to thank council workmen who went to his assistance.
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