Twenty-three people have been arrested following an hours-long stand off with police near Dublin, during which officers were struck with fireworks, stones and other debris. The chaos unfolded outside an asylum seeker hotel in Citywest where hundreds had gathered in the wake of an alleged sexual assault on a 10-year-old girl in the vicinity of the accommodation block in the early hours of Monday. Two members of the Irish police force were hospitalised with injuries during the third night of demonstrations and second night of disorder in eastern Ireland, following clashes with protesters.
One member of An Garda Siochana was struck on the head with a bottle, while another sustained a shoulder injury. Footage from the protest on Wednesday evening showed Public Order Unit officials with plastic shields and body protection, while some attendees threw items including flares, glass bottles and wooden planks at them. The protesters could also be seen waving Irish flags and chanting anti-immigration slogans.
It came after a 26-year-old man, who cannot be named because of rules that apply to all sexual assault cases in the Republic of Ireland, was charged in court over the alleged incident on Monday.
Police were caught on camera pushing the crowd back from the hotel by advancing on them with shields last night, and a mounted unit, dog unit and helicopter were also in attendance.
Young adult males and teenagers were primarily responsible for the chaos, reports suggest.
Justice minister Jim O’Callaghan said “many have been arrested” after last night’s violence and “more will follow”.
He added that the officers had responded appropriately to “thuggish” behaviour outside the migrant hotel, and said perpetrators would be “charged, named and dealt with relentlessly” by the criminal justice system.
While the initial demonstration on Monday night went ahead without major disruption, a female police officer was also injured during Tuesday’s protest and has since been discharged from hospital with a foot injury.
A garda vehicle was also set on fire earlier this week and several other people were arrested.
Justin Kelly, garda commisioner, told reporters on Wednesday that he was “determined” to bring further people “before the courts to face justice” following the violent scenes.
He added that the disorder could not be described as a peaceful protest and said it was “violence with the intent to damage the Citywest building and intimidate those within”.
Irish premier Michael Martin similarly condemned the demonstrations and said there was “no excuse” for attacking officers.