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Canada’s Ambassador to Ireland Kevin Vickers Just Tackled a Protester

Kevin Vickers, who was declared a 'hero' for his role in the 2014 attack on Ottawa's Parliament Hill, does not like people interrupting ceremonies.
Allison Tierney

Canadian Ambassador to Ireland Kevin Vickers wrestles with a protester (left) during a State ceremony to remember the British soldiers who died during the Easter Rising at Grangegorman Military Cemetery, Dublin. Photo via Canadian Press

Canadian Ambassador to Ireland Kevin Vickers, who rose to national prominence for his role in the Parliament Hill attack nearly two years ago, tackled a protester in Ireland today. Vickers, who previously served as a Mountie and Parliament's sergeant-at-arms, has now apparently added freelance tackler to his résumé.

Vickers was attending a ceremony held in a graveyard in Dublin on Thursday honouring 100 British soldiers who died during the Easter Rising, an attempt by Irish republicans to overthrow British rule in 1916. During the invite-only service, Vickers tackled a protester who was yelling that the event was an "insult" and "disgrace." The 59-year-old ambassador was not hurt in the incident, according to reports.

Canadian Ambassador to Ireland Kevin Vickers tackles protester at ceremony to honour British soldiers killed in 1916— RTÉ News (@rtenews)May 26, 2016

Though this time the man the ambassador was reacting to was not armed, Vickers was seen in footage of the service expertly dragging out a unnamed, screaming protester as soldiers quietly stood by. The protester was promptly arrested. On October 22, 2014, when Vickers was sergeant-at-arms, he shot and killed gunman Michael Zehaf-Bibeau in the infamous attack on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. Zehaf-Bibeau shot and killed Corporal Nathan Cirillo at the National War Memorial before proceeding to Parliament. After a firefight with RCMP officer and Vickers, who had a handgun in his office, Zehaf-Bibeau was shot dead. In 2015, Vickers was named Canadian Ambassador to Ireland. Follow Allison Tierney on Twitter.

Tagged:CanadaOttawaAllison TierneyDublinprotesterVice BlogAllison Tierney VICEottawa parliament shootingKevin VickersAmbassador to Irelandsergeant at armsEaster Rising
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