[Cherie]

My very gentle sister was caught up in this yesterday, she was booked into the Holiday Inn express as her husband was having a hospital procedure that required an overnight stay, she was lucky to get a taxi from the hospital to O Connell Bridge as all buses were suspended, the taxi had just come on shift so didnt know there were problems, there was a bus on fire on O Connell Bridge, she said lootiing was going on as she walked toward her hotel, one guy was carrying 3 shoe boxes and a guy across the street shouted, hey Mister what size are they she said there were alot of people around but as she carried on the atmosphere got very tense with lots of youths in hoods and masks, the Gardai had cordoned off the street to her hotel and told her to that she couldn't get in...and to book in somewhere else, luckily she was able to do that, she doesnt drink but went straight to the bar and ordered a whiskey as she was shaking, and she found out later the hotel she was due to stay in was attacked, she said Dublin was deserted today, should have been a crazy busy day shopping wise but the city centre was deserted....well done lads...tank the economy while you are wearing your looted trainers