Dublin violence: ‘Thugs’ highjacked Dublin protest says Irish PM

Violence in Dublin on Monday was the result of a “hijacking situation” by a group of people who engaged in “utter thuggery” the taoiseach, (Irish prime minister) has said.

Simon Harris was speaking after violence erupted during a protest at a site which had been earmarked for asylum seekers.

Some protestors set pallets and a JCB alight at the former Crown Paints factory in Coolock in north Dublin, resulting in a large fire.

Twenty-one people were arrested and charged; 15 appeared in court on Monday night and six more appeared in court on Tuesday afternoon.

The 15 people who appeared on Monday were charged with public order offences, including failure to comply with the orders of a garda (police officer) and with threatening or abusive behaviour.

All 15 were released on conditional bail, provided they stay away from the scene of the disorder

They are all due to appear in court again on 18 September.

The six who appeared on Tuesday were charged with public order offences, engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour and failing to comply with the direction of a garda.

They were released on conditional bail, provided they stay away from the scene of disorder – some of the accused have also been told to stay away from Coolock Garda Station.

Speaking to press on Tuesday morning, Mr Harris praised the “swift action” of gardaí in managing the incident.

The Garda Representative Association (GRA) has requested an “urgent” meeting with senior garda management over “concerns” about whether lessons were learned after riots in the city in November.

In a statement, the GRA said there was “a clear delay” in deploying officers to the events on Monday night in Coolock.

It added that the safety of its members was paramount and that gardaí should be “better prepared” for any future disorder.

The site at Coolock in North Dublin was to become a site for asylum seekers.

Work was due to begin on the Malahide Road side later in the week.

Protestors took to the site on Monday after machinery and pallets were set alight causing a large fire.

More than 200 gardaí were deployed to the incident.

Three Garda cars were been damaged, one of which was set on fire, Irish broadcaster RTÉ reported.

It said pepper spray was used by police as a security guard and a number of gardaí were injured during clashes with protesters.

Petrol bombs and fireworks were thrown, mattresses were set on fire damaging a JCB and fires were lit on the roads during the disturbances.

Gardaí described the disturbances as a public order incident and the road was closed for a period.

They said officers were “subjected to both verbal and physical abuse throughout the day, which escalated into rocks, fireworks and other objects being launched towards them”.

“A number of fires were lit and official Garda vehicles seriously damaged,” a spokesperson said.

Irish Justice Minister Helen McEntee said the events were completely unacceptable and would not be tolerated.

She said she expected more arrests to be made and added that plans to accommodate the asylum seekers would continue.