A total of 19 persons were arrested on Monday evening after anti-immigrant demonstrations turned violent in north Dublin’s Coolock area.
While 15 persons — 13 men and two women — were produced before a special sitting of the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin, where they were charged with public order offenses on Monday evening, four more people are due to appear in court on Tuesday morning.
According to RTE, they have been released on bail on the condition that they will stay away from the site in Coolock and will not engage in anti-social gatherings or protests.
Around 8am, violent scenes broke out at a site earmarked for asylum seekers in Coolock. The ‘Coolock Says No’ demonstrators, who have been protesting against the accommodation centre for International Protection applicants, set alight a JCB and mattresses at the former Crown Paints warehouse on the Malahide Road.
In a statement, Gardai said over 200 members were deployed to the scene, including Public Order Units and Air Support Unit. “They have been subject to both verbal and physical abuse – and have had rocks, fireworks and other objects thrown at them,” Gardai added in the statement.
Gardai said a number of official vehicles were damaged during the clash, while adding that they were “unaware of any injuries at this time”.
As the situation escalated, Gardai resorted to the use of incapacitant spray to defend themselves. Videos posted on social media show demonstrators hurling abuse at Gardai and young men standing on Garda vehicles, and jumping on the windscreens.
Describing the incident as “reprehensible”, Prime Minister Simon Harris said actions were designed “to sow fear and division” and that the “law will be implemented”. Minister for Justice Helen McEntee stated that “this was not a legitimate protest” and that the incident “does not represent the decent communities of Coolock and surrounding areas”.
“Arson and assaults are reprehensible and serious crimes. They will be fully investigated and those involved will be held to account for their actions,” she added.
The Irish Times reported citing the Department of Integration that workers had attempted to access the site on Monday morning to begin refurbishing it for use as accommodation for people seeking international protection. The department has previously said the site would be used to accommodate over 500 people seeking international protection.