Today republicans from all over the country gathered in unity outside the British embassy on Merrion Road in Dublin to support the plight of Pows in Maghberry gaol in Antrim.
The crowd who had gathered from shortly after 2p.m were waiting to welcome their comrades who had travelled in protest convoy from Newry visiting Dundalk, Drogheda, Julianstown, Balbriggan and on to the city centre.

From early morning in Newry it was evident that those participating were going to be harassed in some way with the large amount of RUC/PSNI patrolling the B&Q car park however it did not seem to materialise probably due to the presence of members of the media. 

The convoy departed Newry around 11.30am heading south and shortly after crossing the border garda special branch were in tail. As the convoy passed through Dundalk more vehicles filed in behind along with more gardai and by the time it reached Drogheda it was growing in size. The convoy took an unexpected turn and headed through the centre of the town but not before an unmarked garda car with uniformed gardai attempted to block its path. Within minutes the path was clear and the convoy proceeded on its journey to Julianstown. At this point a break of a few minutes took place before more vehicles with tricolour and starryplough flags filed in behind.

An attempt was made by an unmarked garda car to split the convoy near Balbriggan but this was twarted when the convoy at the front realised what was happening and slowed right down to a snails pace. On arriving at the Apple Green services outside Balbriggan protesters were met by special branch who started to take names under section 30 of the offences against the state act although it was argued that no offence was being committed. Tea and a sandwiches were welcome before all moved off in the final leg of the journey.

Arriving at Whitehall gave a great boost to those already participating as more vehicles and a motorbike joined in. It was evident at this stage that the convoy was to become a major headache for traffic control as the convoy had slowed right down to as little as 20MPH to accomadate everyone passing through traffic lights. On more than one occasion the convoy came to a halt to allow the rear catch up. Gardai then encouraged vehicles to break red lights but this did not happen.

By now word was filtering through that numbers at the embassy had grown as had the convoy. A final attempt was made to block access to the convoy to the trinity college area with the sudden closing of Georges Quay by a garda on Motorbike. The convoy refused to move as directed in a different direction and a brief stand off occurred as the lead driver was threatened with arrest for obstructing traffic. A message came across the garda's radio under no circumstances was he to lift the diversion but while he was considering his options the convoy took a short cut and onto trinity college and headed for the British embassy.

On arrival the convoy was cheered by those who had waited patiently in the freezing cold. Gardai immediately directed the convoy onto a side street which they had reserved for parking but there was another un-expected twist. Those in the convoy took to the road and marched up to their comrades at the embassy. Arrangements were then made with gardai and Thomas Lynch entered the embassy to hand in a letter of protest in support of the Maghaberry Pows. A protest was held outside the embassy for a short while before republicans from many organisations dispersed. A substantial number of uniformed and garda special branch were on duty outside the embassy at all times.