Flares and bottles thrown at gardaí as hundreds protest at Citywest for second night
Stones and fireworks have been thrown at Gardaí for a second consecutive night in Dublin.Hundreds of protesters have gathered near the entrance of Citywest Hotel, an accommodation centre for asylum seekers.The protest followed an alleged sexual assault assault on a 10-year-old girl in the vicinity of the hotel in the early hours of Monday morning.Serious disorder occurred on Tuesday night and Gardai pledged a “robust response” if violence continued.Hundreds of protesters faced off with around 40 uniformed gardaí between 7pm and 8pm this Wednesday.The uniformed gardaí were replaced with the Public Order Unit, whose members carried plastic shields and additional body protection, after members of the original cordon were struck with debris, stones and fireworks.Protesters have thrown masonry, flares, glass bottles and wooden planks at An Garda Siochana members near a Dublin hotel.Gardai are attempting to disperse the crowd from the area in the west of Dublin.A mounted garda unit and a dog unit are at the scene, with a police helicopter providing air support.This comes as five men have been charged with public order offences following violent clashes outside a Dublin hotel housing asylum seekers.The men, two of whom are aged in their 50s and three in their 40s, appeared before the Criminal Courts of Justice on Wednesday morning.Another man, aged in his 30s, has been arrested this afternoon for an alleged offence of Violent Disorder contrary to section 15 Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994.He has been detained under section 4 Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a Garda Station in the Dublin Region.A woman in her 50s who was detained has since been released without charge pending a file being prepared for Ireland’s Director of Public Prosecutions.A garda van was set on fire, and bricks and fireworks were thrown at gardaí policing the demonstration. Bins filled with bottles were also emptied and used as missiles.Approximately 1,000 protesters gathered outside the hotel — used by the State to accommodate international protection applicants — from early evening.Gardai officers block protesters in Saggart, as disturbances have flared outside Citywest Hotel which used to house asylum seekers. Picture: Niall Carson/PAA garda spokesperson said operational activity at the scene is still ongoing, with a full policing and security operation in place. "An investigation is being led from an incident room at Clondalkin Garda Station. Two scenes remain preserved for forensic and technical examination," the spokesperson said. The protest on Tuesday night saw a large number of gardaí in public order gear deployed near the hotel and forming a barrier to stop protesters from entering the premises.Gardaí later used pepper spray after attempts were made to break through the cordons, including charging the line with horse-drawn sulkies.Individuals were found carrying garden tools and metal implements, and some damaged nearby walls to create projectiles.The garda helicopter was targeted with lasers, and one female garda member required medical treatment for a foot injury. She has since been discharged from the hospital. Gardaí confirmed that six people were arrested, mainly for public order offences.Protesters in Saggart, as disturbances have flared outside Citywest Hotel which used to house asylum seekers. Picture: PAFar-right and anti-immigration groups had promoted the protest on social media earlier in the day.Footage posted online showed several hundred protesters, many waving Irish flags and chanting anti-immigration slogans.In a statement on Tuesday night, gardaí said the protest was not peaceful, describing the violence as “thuggery and an attempt to intimidate and injure.”"An Garda Síochána had a policing operation in place for this public gathering organised by disparate groups on social media, who stir up hatred and violence and encourage and entice others to get involved," the spokesperson said. Throughout the evening, nearly 300 Garda members were on duty, including 125 uniformed officers, 150 public order members, and units with water cannon, mounted and dog patrols, and air support.An investigation has begun, and a Senior Investigating Officer has been appointed.The Luas Red Line services between Belgard and Saggart were suspended ahead of the protest. Later, the glass at the Luas stop at Saggart was smashed.‘This was a mob intent on violence’ – Garda Commissioner In a statement, Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly said: "An Garda Siochana facilitate peaceful protest on a daily basis. This was obviously not a peaceful protest. The actions this evening can only be described as thuggery. This was a mob intent on violence against Gardaí."I utterly condemn the attacks on Gardaí who did their jobs professionally and with great courage to keep people safe. Public order units, dog unit, mounted unit, air support and the water cannon were deployed along with front-line colleagues, which brought the situation to a conclusion."We will now begin the process of identifying those who committed crimes and we will bring those involved in this violence to justice.”Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly visits the scene, near the Citywest Hotel, where disturbances have flared outside the Dublin hotel which used to house asylum seekers. Picture date: Niall Carson/PA WireActing Deputy Garda Commissioner Paul Cleary said they would be “relentless in our pursuit of those involved” in the disorder, which he said had been orchestrated online.“We know that even though people may have been wearing hoods or masks, we still have the ability to identify them and bring them before the courts, and we will pursue that relentlessly,” he told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland.He said Tuesday night’s protest included a mix of some peaceful protesters, youths on horses and scramblers and “violent thugs who were there purely to incite violence and promote fear”.Mr Cleary said that such incidents are “very dynamic and dangerous”, and while gardaí are prepared, “you can never prepare for everything”.“The fact that we were able to bring the incident under control within approximately two and a half hours … I think one of the main objectives was to prevent spread and we did that.” He said of the Garda van that was burnt out: “When you have control it doesn’t mean you have zero damage.“What we witnessed last night went far beyond protest. It was a violent riot driven by thugs intent on violence, and it wasn’t just an attack on gardaí, it was an attack on community safety, and we won’t tolerate that.”Taoiseach praises Garda response Taoiseach Micheál Martin echoed the Minister’s remarks, paying tribute to the front-line Gardaí who he said “acted courageously and quickly to restore order.”"The Minister for Justice and Garda Commissioner have briefed me on the operation, and I thank everyone for their work," he said."An Garda Síochána protect us all and has a proud tradition of service to the Irish people."There can be no justification for the vile abuse against them, or the attempted assaults and attacks on members of the force that will shock all right-thinking people."Gardai at the scene, near the Citywest Hotel, where disturbances have flared outside the Dublin hotel which used to house asylum seekers. Picture: Niall Carson/PA WireTánaiste Simon Harris said there was “no excuse” for the violent “thuggery” witnessed outside the hotel.“I condemn the violent attacks on members of An Garda Siochana outside Citywest last night,” said the Tanaiste.“There is understandable shock and horror right across our country over the alleged incident that is now before the courts. The full facts must and will be established as people rightly expect.“But there is no excuse for this type of violence and thuggery against the men and women who serve to protect us and victims of crime every day.”Justice Minister says attacks on gardaí 'will not be tolerated' Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan condemned the disorder, saying: "People threw missiles at gardaí, threw fireworks at them, and set a Garda vehicle on fire. This is unacceptable and will result in a forceful response from the gardai. Those involved will be brought to justice."Referencing the alleged sexual assault on Monday, he said: "As has been made clear during the day, a man has been arrested and charged before the courts in relation to the alleged incident. "While I am not in a position to comment any further on this criminal investigation, I have been advised that there is no ongoing threat to public safety in the area."Damage to the entrance of the Citywest Hotel, where disturbances have flared outside the Dublin hotel which used to house asylum seekers. Picture: Niall Carson/PA WireMr O'Callaghan added that the “weaponising of a crime by people who wish to sow dissent in our society is not unexpected.”He said attacks on Gardaí and property “will not make anyone feel safe” and stressed that such actions “will not be tolerated.”"It is clear to me from talking to colleagues during the day and this evening that this violence does not reflect the people of Saggart. They are not the people participating in this criminality, but rather the people sitting at home in fear of it."He added: "Peaceful protest is a cornerstone of our democracy. Violence is not. There is no excuse for the scenes we have witnessed tonight."
- additional reporting from PA
