Tony Blair was in Eason on O’Connell Street Saturday 4th September 2010 to sign copies of his autobiography, A Journey. His visit prompted tight security and things didn’t go entirely smoothly.
The Irish Independent reported that:
There were violent scuffles between protesters and gardai in O’Connell Street, Dublin, yesterday during former British prime minister Tony Blair’s controversial book signing event.
Shoes and eggs were thrown by the crowd at his car as he arrived to sign copies of his memoir, A Journey, at Eason’s flagship bookstore beside the GPO.
The missiles, thrown by anti-war protesters, who numbered no more than 200, did not hit Mr Blair as he arrived at the venue shortly before 11am. The poor weather greatly reduced the risk of widespread trouble.
Four people were arrested as activists clashed with gardai during the demonstrations before midday. The four were charged with minor public order offences and later released from custody.
The Irish Times gave further details on those arrested:
Four men were arrested following a protest in Dublin city centre yesterday morning where former British prime minister Tony Blair held a public book signing, the first since his memoirs were released this week.
The four, two aged in their late teens and two aged in their 30s, were taken to Store Street Garda station where they were charged with public order offences and released. They are due to appear in court on September 30th.
On a more thematic note The Guardian reported:
Some were determined in Dublin that these glass walls should be broken down; a few protesters even went to the trouble of queueing to make their judgments on his book in person. Kate O’Sullivan, a 24-year-old from Cork, and a member of the “Irish Palestinian Solidarity Movement”, got past the concentric rings of security that involved Garda and Special Branch and Emergency Response Units, and while Blair scribbled his signature informed him: “Mr Blair I am here to make a citizen’s arrest for the war crimes you have committed.” She was dragged away, she said, by five security people.
The day before, Blair appeared on RTÉ’s Late Late show with Ryan Tubridy for his first live interview since releasing the book:
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