Six people have been arrested after police were attacked with missiles, fireworks and horse-drawn carts outside an asylum seeker hotel in Dublin.
The Citywest Hotel in Saggart has become a site of demonstration after an alleged sexual assault in the vicinity in the early hours of Monday morning. A man had been arrested and has appeared in court in relation to the alleged incident.
Micheál Martin, the Irish premier, said there was “no justification” for attacks on police after a gardai vehicle was set on fire and one officer required medical attention.
Watch: Police clash with demonstrators outside asylum seeker hotel
Missiles and fireworks were used to attack police
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Protesters displayed Irish flags and chanted as 300 officers were deployed to control the violence. There were also attempts to charge the gardai line with horse-drawn carts.
Commissioner Justin Kelly said: “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 gardai. I utterly condemn the attacks on gardai who did their jobs professionally and with great courage to keep people safe.”
“We will now begin the process of identifying those who committed crimes and we will bring those involved in this violence to justice.”
It was the second night in a row a protest had been held outside the hotel, which is being used as state accommodation for asylum seekers. Monday night’s demonstration passed without significant incident.
Martin said that he had been briefed on the violence. In a statement, the Irish prime minister said: “I strongly condemn the violent disorder that unfolded in Citywest in Dublin this evening. I pay tribute to the frontline gardai who acted courageously and quickly to restore order.
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“The minister for justice and garda commissioner have briefed me on the operation, and I thank everyone for their work. An Garda Síochána protect us all and have 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.”
Ireland’s justice minister, Jim O’Callaghan, said that a man had been arrested and appeared in court in relation to the alleged assault. He said: “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.
“Unfortunately, the weaponising of a crime by people who wish to sow dissent in our society is not unexpected. The gardai are prepared for this, but attacking gardai and property is not an answer, and won’t help to make anyone feel safe.
The Citywest Hotel, which is being used to house asylum seekers
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“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.”
O’Callaghan added that attacks on gardai would “not be tolerated”. He said: “Peaceful protest is a cornerstone of our democracy. Violence is not. There is no excuse for the scenes we have witnessed tonight.”
