Direct Action Protest Leaves Harney Seeing Red In Cherry Orchard

dublin | rights, freedoms and repression | feature Monday November 01, 2010 21:26 by éirígí PRO - éirígí

Oppose December's Blood Budget

Blood on her hands as she buries our public health system for private gain

éirígí activist Louise Minihan today poured red paint over Mary Harney's clothing in Cherry Orchard Hospital, Dublin.

Indymedia Links:
Harney moves to close St Luke's ahead of schedule? | Harney moves to close St Luke's Cancer Hospital | Dail passes 'close St Luke's Bill' | Vital centre faces closure | No Private Hospitals – Fund our Public Hospitals | Roscommon Hospital protest 14th August 2010 | Thousands March to Defend Health Services in Letterkenny | The need for a united European response of workers against the attacks
Other Links:
The Susie Long story RTE audio, video links
Joe Duffy Interview on RTE | Harney and husband | Mary Harney's lasting contribution (irish independent)
Wikipedia Links:
Mary Harney | HSE

The direct action took place as Harney was preparing to turn the sod at a long overdue mental health unit at Cherry Orchard Hospital. Just yards away is the Laurel Unit - an 18 bed ward for sufferers of alzheimers and dementia - which was closed down during the summer as a direct result of the HSE recruitment embargo.

Over the last number of years the surrounding community of Cherry Orchard and Ballyfermot have been forced to mobilise in defence of the hospital on numerous occasions. As Harney arrived at the hospital she was met by twenty protesters from the local community demanding greater funding.

The pouring of diluted red paint on Harney's coat symbolised the blood that she, Fianna Fail and the Green Party have on their hands. The cutbacks in healthcare that will be contained in Decembers blood budget will result in the unnecessary and avoidable deaths of hundreds, if not thousands, of people over the coming years. Irish citizens are literally dying to satisfy the demands of the IMF, the EU and the money markets. The wealth of this country should be used to provide a first class health service that is open to everyone and not to bail out the private banks.