The owners of a Saint Stephen's Green property send in a demolition crew and remove protestors occupying the building.
Protesters campaigning to save Georgian buildings at the corner of Hume Street and St Stephen's Green clashed with demolition workers.
The buildings at 44-45 St Stephen's Green have been occupied since December by people protesting against a plan for their demolition to make way for redevelopment.
At half past four this morning, the demolition men and security men smashed in the door at number 45 St Stephen's Green.
The occupiers were bundled out of the house with their possessions allowing the demolition workers to get on with the job. Four of the occupiers were injured. One of the protesters, professional pianist George Desmond Hodnett, had to receive ten stitches for an injury to his left hand. After the trouble began, around sixty policemen arrived on the scene. Just one arrest was made for breach of the peace.
The demolition work continued all morning despite an official from Dublin Corporation pointing out that the work was being carried out in a dangerous manner. No hoarding had been put around the site to protect passersby from falling rubble and debris. The demolition team removed the roofs from two of the buildings and left the site at 11.15 am and the protestors moved back in.
The building is owned by Green Property Company Ltd who plan to go ahead with the demolition after an offer to sell the building at cost to An Taisce was rejected.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 7 June 1970. The reporter is Barry Linanne.
