BANG ON

Irishman Smashes Into Gates of Russian Embassy in Dublin, Says ‘I’ve Done My Bit’

Desmond Wisley waited to be arrested after knocking down the embassy fencing with his truck. Russia, in turn, protested the “barbaric action” without a hint of irony.

An Irish ecclesiastical salesman told police he was doing his “bit” after smashing his truck through the gates of the Russian embassy in Dublin on Monday. Video circulating on social media shows the truck reversing into the gates—to cheers from gathered spectators. The Irish Times identified the man as Desmond Wisley, who “is part of a family-run ecclesiastical supplies business, supplying products to churches including wine, bread, altar cloths, banners, candles and vestments.” He has been arrested for criminal damage and remains in custody. There were no injuries. As he waited to be arrested, Wisley described himself as a “working man” from the Irish county of Leitrim. As he was led away by police, he added, “I’ve done my bit, lads. It’s about time the rest of Ireland done their bit.”

The Russian embassy in south Dublin has been rumored to be an espionage base, with an outsize staff of 31, compared to 22 staff at the embassy in the U.K. Embassy officials claimed in a statement that Irish police “stood idle” while the incident happened and described it “as a clear and blatant violation of the Article 22 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic relations of 1961,” adding, without apparent irony, “We believe that no people of sound mind could support such senseless and barbaric actions.”