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Lisa chains herself to Dáil gates
30.06.09
by
Linda McGrory
GAY rights campaigner Lisa Connell from Greencastle
made national headlines last week when she chained
herself to the gates of Leinster House in protest
against new Government legislation.
Lisa, 26, was chained to the Dáil gates for about 15
minutes on Thursday while her friend Will St Ledger
from Tipperary scaled the entrance's tall pillars
posing as a workman in a high-visibility jacket.
Both are members of the pressure group Equals who
feel the Civil Partnership Bill does not go far
enough for same sex couples. The Bill was published
on Friday and provides recognition to gay and
lesbian couples, but stops short of recognising
civil marriage.
"The Bill does not go far enough in terms of
inheritance, tax or children's rights," explained
Lisa yesterday. "I'm a citizen of this country who
pays my taxes and I don't see why I should be denied
the rights afforded to everyone else. It's simply
discrimination," she said. |
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Equals want a meeting
with Justice Minister Dermot Ahern to discuss the
legislation. "We have made numerous attempts to talk
to Government and to show them what we want but
largely it's being ignored. They're not listening to
us.
"We've heard back from Mr Ahern's secretary that a
meeting is not possible at this time, and all that
rubbish." Mr St Ledger, 37, was arrested after he
voluntarily came down from the pillar at 1.30pm. He
was later released without charge and a file is
being prepared for the DPP.
Lisa explained how, after a quarter of an hour,
Gardai quickly cut through the bicycle chain around
her waist with bolt cutters. "I wasn't arrested but
I was cautioned and told to leave the scene. Our
protest was a non violent direct action because we
are peaceful activists. It wasn't designed to cause
a big scene. We thought such an action would speak
louder than words."
Their protest made the pages of all the country's
national newspapers. Lisa, who is currently single,
is an advertising executive with Gay Community News
(GCN) magazine in Dublin. Like her father Bart, who
ran in the peninsula for election to Donegal County
Council, she too was unsuccessful in her bid for an
independent local election seat in Dublin South
West. She was delighted, however, with her poll of
239 first preference votes. |
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