Taoiseach Simon Harris on Tuesday condemned the attack on Gardai in north Dublin’s Coolock, where anti-immigration demonstrators were involved in violent clashes with members of the police force at a site earmarked for the accomodation of asylum seekers.
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Harris also dismissed the idea that the disturbance was caused by a lack of engagement on the part of the government with the local community.
“What we saw last night was such a distance away from a question about community engagement. It sheer thuggery that should be called out as such,” Taoiseach Harris said.
“When you decide to use a petrol bomb, you lose your right to be called a ‘protester’,” Harris said, pointing out that demonstrators attempted to harm members of Gardai.
A security guard has been injured and a number of Gardai vehicles have been damaged during the violence. A total of 19 persons were arrested and charged with public order offenses in connection with the case.
Violent scenes broke out at the entrance of the former Crown Paints warehouse, the site of a proposed asylum seeker accommodation centre, on Monday. Over 200 members of Gardai were deployed to the scene, including Public Order Units and Air Support Unit.
Videos posted on social media show demonstrators hurling abuse at Gardai and young men standing on Garda vehicles, and jumping on the windscreens.
The site in Coolock is expected to be used to accommodate over 500 people seeking international protection.