POLICE CARRYING BATONS CHARGED A CROWD GATHERED OUTSIDE THE COURT HOUSE AT PORT LAOIGHISE IN THE IRISH REPUBLIC TODAY (FRIDAY) WHEN TEN MEN APPEARED ON CHARGES ARISING OUT OF INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED DURING THE RECENT VISIT OF PRINCESS MARGARET AND HER HUSBAND, LORD SNOWDON TO IRELAND.

THE CLASH OCCURRED DURING AN ADJOURNMENT OF THE HEARING, AS POLICE TRIED TO FORCE THE SHOUTING CROWD AWAY FROM THE BUILDING. TWO PEOPLE WERE INJURED AND SEVERAL ARRESTED DURING THE STRUGGLE. SHOP WINDOWS WERE SMASHED. POLICE LATER SEALED OFF THE ROAD OUTSIDE THE COURT.

THE TEN PRISONERS ARE ACCUSED OF UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLY AND MALICIOUS DAMAGE TO TREES. TODAY THEY WERE FURTHER CHARGED WITH DAMAGING A WOODEN PARTITION IN MOUNTMELLICK COURT HOUSE, SCENE OF DISTURBANCES LAST TUESDAY, WHEN THE MEN APPEARED PREVIOUSLY.

BEFORE THE HEARING, 200 POLICE WERE DRAFTED IN FROM SURROUNDING COUNTIES IN ATTEMPT TO PREVENT A REPETITION OF THE EARLIER DISTURBANCES. AN ALL-NIGHT GUARD HAD BEEN MAINTAINED ON THE COURT BUILDING, AND ONLY STAFF CARRYING SPECIAL PASSES WERE ADMITTED. ONLY THOSE DIRECTLY CONNECTED WITH THE CASE AND MEMBERS OF THE PRESS WERE ADMITTED TO THE HEARING.