THE Justice Minister has blasted the thugs who set fires at a site for asylum seekers and assaulted riot cops in Dublin today as 15 people appeared in court tonight.
Gardai made some 19 arrests after criminal elements attacked the old Crown Paints Factory in Coolock, which was due to house international protection applicants.
Cops arrested some 19 people, 15 of whom were charged and appeared in court tonight.
The 15 individuals were all released on conditional bail and are due to reappear on September 18.
They must stay away from the incident site and also must agree to not engage in anti-social gatherings or protests.
Fires were lit at the site on the Malahide Road and a JCB digger was also torched as dozens of people gathered in the area.
This was followed by members of the Garda Public Order Unit being pelted with bricks as a number of people were detained.
The Public Order Unit was deployed over fears a riot could erupt in the early part of the day.
Officers came under attack from rocks and fireworks when they set up a cordon on the road and a stand-off took place with activists.
Gardai suspect protests at the site are due to be held for the rest of the week — with messages shared on social media urging people to converge on the area.
A told us, “Some of them are Americans who have close ties to organized crime.
“Some of those other people are said to have right-wing perspectives and are suspects in the incidents of injured criminals that occurred at this site.
“They are all anti-immigration and try to align themselves with a cause to make themselves relevant.
“These other people are jumping on the bandwagon and don’t care about the damage these incidents are causing to local communities. “
Coolock Crown paint factory disused to house 500 asylum seekers.
Officials said the modular sets would provide “mixed-use housing for families, couples, single adult men and single adult women. “
A camp set up on off-site personal land several months ago to prevent his staff from renovating the property.
Efforts were made this morning to access the site. And there was fury when it was learned that the device had been brought in overnight.
It is also understood that the government this morning will dismantle the camp, which led to initial clashes between protesters and the Gardai.
At least one person, likely a security guard, was injured.
By lunchtime, a crowd of about a hundred people had gathered, mostly men in their teens to 20s.
About two hundred police officers were deployed, joined by about 30 members of the Public Order Unit equipped with shields who maintained a line along the street.
Around 30 Garda vehicles covered the road, which had been closed following the JCB fire.
Gardai came under sustained attack from protesters throwing stones and other missiles while using pepper spray to disperse crowds and made several arrests.
A giant wheelie bin was then set on fire on Malahide Road, near Darndale. Most local businesses have closed their doors due to the violence.
A shocking video shows a man in a tracksuit hitting a man wearing a high-visibility jacket with an object.
And in some other video, paramedics can be seen getting into an ambulance on a stretcher.
An asylum seeker was reportedly injured during the protests and masked men heard racist chants.
Three Garda cars were damaged and one of them caught fire.
Videos circulated on social media of gangs of masked youths smashing the windows of Garda cars, one of them jumping onto the roof of a marked vehicle as tensions continued to simmer.
Justice Minister Helen McEntee condemned the violence.
Fine Gael TD said: “I am appalled by the criminal habit that occurred today in Coolock.
“I have spoken to the Garda Commissioner and he has assured me that everything possible will be done to bring those responsible to justice.
“Gardai immediately arrived at the scene and the law enforcement unit is on the scene. Those involved in such acts will face all the rigors of the law. “
Before the chaos began, many messages were shared on Twitter/X, Telegram and WhatsApp in order to exacerbate tensions.
Some of the somber messages read: “We will have to take a stand. “
Another said: “Let Coolock be the straw that breaks the camel’s back. “
And one of them said that in Coolock they were “preparing for war”.
The Taoiseach has condemned the riots in north Dublin.
In a statement, Simon Harris said: “The scenes we witnessed at Coolock are reprehensible.
“The Minister for Justice (Helen McEntee) has informed me of the day the law will be applied.
“No one has the right to burn cars, damage property or attack members of An Garda Siochana and the emergency services. These moves are devious and aimed at sowing and dividing.
“We are not satisfied with being legitimized in some way by calling them ‘protest. ‘
“I would like to thank An Garda Siochana who was attacked today. They showed ordinary professionalism.
“A security guard attacked just because he was doing his job. He and his family circle are on my mind and I hope he recovers soon.
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris described the chaos as “a police day”.
He added: “What we saw is unacceptable.
“We have witnessed attacks on the Gardaí, injured criminals and serious crimes of public disorder. All of them will be investigated.
“We have another 15 people loading and we will have more loaders overnight.
“I would like to comment on how members of An Garda Síochána, together with local Gardaí and Public Order units, have been dealing with a very volatile and complicated scenario for over 12 hours.
Councillor Daithi Doolan had previously warned that one of the protest’s “ambassadors” was a “convicted drug dealer”.
And the Sinn Féin representative explained that the thug had links in the past with the British National Party.
The Ministry of Absorption reported that staff attempted to reach the site this morning to begin renovating it and using it as accommodation for other people seeking foreign protection.
A spokesman added: “The protests on the front lines have delayed the start of work for several months.
“The Department condemns all acts of intimidation against contractors and their employees. “
Local Sinn Fein councilor Micheal Mac Donncha called today’s violence “deplorable”.
He said: “The burning of cars and the attempted burning of a building are violent criminal acts and must be strongly condemned.
“The guilty resign immediately. This is an effort to spread concern and hate in our communities and the vast majority of righteous people need nothing to do with it. The Ministry of Absorption said the site will be created to accommodate families seeking foreigners. Protection.
“All people’s thoughts on this will have to be expressed in a non-violent and democratic way. Violence, intimidation and arson have no place in our communities. Everyone deserves respect, including the men, women and young people who want to be housed in this site. .
“Likewise, we want to see constructive engagement with communities to ensure that all services are available to both local people and those staying at the centre. »
And local People Before Profit councilor Conor Reddy added: “Coolock is a lesson in what happens when a small, hateful minority is allowed to harass and intimidate with impunity.
“Immigrants are not to blame for the housing crisis or the terrible conditions in which many other people find themselves in our communities.
“There is nothing patriotic or rebellious about attacking women, intimidating other people or profiting from racists abroad. »
Addressing the Coolock chimney in the Seanad, independent Sen. Frances Black said that “homeless asylum seekers are now being harassed and assaulted by racists who torment them and spread it on social media, and I think that’s surely obscene. “
“We are not satisfied with being legitimized in some way by calling them ‘protest’. “
Seanad leader Lisa Chambers insisted: “We will simply have to put a stop to this type of crime. »
Fianna Fáil senator called the chaos in Coolock “shocking” and added: “It is certainly despicable for someone to set fire to personal property, because they have a problem with immigrants or refugee accommodation facilities.
“This simply cannot be the norm in this country. We see too many conditions like this. This is criminal behavior.
Social Democrat and Sinn Fein councillors, as well as independents John Lyons and Barry Heneghan, put forward a motion for greater network involvement at a scheduled meeting of Dublin City Council’s committee for the region.
The movement condemns “the violent movements of those who maintained this blockade to not give refuge to those who sought refuge and sowed concern and lies. “
However, he said the scenario at Coolock “is poorly controlled by the branch and the culprit organizations, with a lack of ongoing network involvement and necessary communication. “
The movement added: “Although no one will be able to veto the mandatory provisions for applicants for foreign protection, the continued commitment promised on the network has not been fulfilled. “
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