The Justice Minister met with LGBT+ campaigners in the city yesterday amid rumours the Library on Grand Parade will be forced to close again this weekend.
The library has been closed twice due to protestors opposed to LGBTQ+ reading material and it’s thought another demonstration will take place this Saturday.
Minister Helen McEntee told RedFM News that people have a right to protest peacefully but says demonstrators cannot be allowed to harass or intimidate people.
The Minister met with members of Cork Gay Project yesterday evening to discuss the policing of the protests in Cork.
Speaking to RedFM News, Senator Jerry Buttimer outlines why he organised the meeting:
"Members of the LGBT community in Cork, including myself, are concerned at the escalation of abusive behaviour and it's one that we can't condone or allow to continue. The nature of the protests is what's at issue, it isn't the ability of people to protest, but it is having a wider impact on the LGBT community in Cork and also on the staff in our city libraries. The meeting yesterday with the Minister for Justice allowed members of the Cork Gay Project to respond to the events and to outline their concerns to the Minister"
