Dundalk supporter Danny denied entry to Belarus for Champions League clash

Danny O’Connell

A Dundalk FC supporter has earned the sympathy of fans all across Ireland after becoming stranded in Lithuania in his attempt to follow his beloved Lilywhites in their Champions League clash with BATE Borisov in Belarus tonight.

Danny O’Connell had been attempting to gain access to the Eastern European country ahead of Dundalk’s game in Barysaw yesterday when he was stopped at passport control. It is reported that customs officials deemed his passport unacceptable and subsequently tore a page out of it. That left him unable to travel and, as there is no Irish embassy in Belarus, he was forced to go to neighbouring Lithuania.

It appeared that Danny would be stranded there but the intervention of Dundalk fans Orla Taaffe and Margaret Curtis – who got former Minister for Foreign Affairs and fellow Lilywhites fan Dermot Ahern involved – ensured that Danny at least got a hotel for the night in Lithuania last night.

It is understood he will not be able to attend tonight’s match but should be able to get back to Ireland on a flight tomorrow.

Commenting on the matter via his Twitter page, Danny described the incident as an “absolute nightmare”, adding that he’d never been so let down before.

He added: “The frustrating thing is the exact same passport was good enough for the Belarus embassy in London to charge me 100 euro for the visa.”

In another post he said: “Worst trip and easily the worst experiences of my life. I just want to get home and see my family/friends.”

On a brighter note for the rest of the Dundalk travelling support, they found a bar in Minsk serving Harp Lager. Tonight’s game has a kick-off time of 6.30pm.

Man dragged from his vehicle by Gardaí after being accused of obstructing the work of Irish Water

The ongoing tensions surrounding the installation of water meters and the impending introduction of water charges reached new heights in one Dundalk estate recently when a local man was involved with a near half an hour stand-off with Gardaí.

Harry Taaffe had to be physically pulled from his van after parking in front of a property in Fr Murray Park last month.

Despite claims he was there to carry out work for the resident of the property, who was on the scene, Gardaí accused him of obstructing Irish Water from carrying out the installation of a water meter.

After a lengthy stand-off involving local residents and more than a dozen Gardaí, Mr Taaffe eventually left his vehicle in handcuffs after being coaxed into standing down by his daughter Orla.

He was then removed from the area in the back of a Garda van and brought to Dundalk Garda Station but was later released.

This is perhaps the most prominent local stand-off in the ongoing protest against the introduction of water charges with locals claiming they cannot and will not pay for water when the first bills arrive in the New Year.

Earlier this week Fr Murray Park was listed as one of a handful of estates around the country where meter installation had been delayed.

Check out the video above.