Canadian Ambassador to Ireland Kevin Vickers, right, wrestles with a protester during a State ceremony to remember the British soldiers who died during the Easter Rising at Grangegorman Military Cemetery, Dublin Thursday May 26, 2016.
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As the wreath was being laid a shouting protester tried to intervene and was tackled by Vickers who held the man for a minute until he was arrested.
Global Affairs Canada spokesman Francois Lasalle confirmed Vickers’ involvement in the ceremony and that he was not injured after he “intercepted” the man.
The event was attended by a number of Irish and British dignitaries.
“Ambassador Vickers just went back in and took his seat and let the Irish police handcuff the man and lead him away”, Ryan said.
At the time, people speculated that it was a plainclothes police officer or security worker who had grabbed the protester.
Vickers was named Canada’s ambassador to Ireland in January 2015.
Canadian Ambassador to Ireland Kevin Vickers, who rose to national prominence for his role in the Parliament Hill attack almost two years ago, tackled a protester in Ireland today.
Vickers made headlines around the world for taking down Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, who shot and killed Corporal Nathan Cirillo before being killed in a gun battle on parliament hill. Zehaf-Bibeau then stormed Centre Block, where Vickers and six RCMP officers opened fire in an attempt to stop the attack.
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The ceremony honoured the 125 British soldiers who died in the Easter Rising in 1916, an armed rebellion by Irish republicans seeking to end British rule and establish an independent Ireland.
