Dublin, Ireland — Twenty-three people were arrested during a second consecutive night of severe disturbances at the Citywest accommodation centre in Dublin, which Gardaí (Irish police) confirmed was predominantly carried out by teenagers and young adult males. This latest unrest follows protests that began outside the centre on Monday evening, escalating significantly since Tuesday night.
Escalating Violence and Gardaí Response
The confrontation on the second night saw missiles and fireworks launched at Gardaí. Over 300 Gardaí—including the Public Order Unit, mounted units, and Air Support—were deployed to manage the situation, which commenced just before 7 pm. Officers attempting to direct crowds to disperse under Section 8 of the Public Order Act and form cordons faced verbal abuse and physical assaults.
Protesters escalated their attacks by breaking masonry from the road and the Luas stop to use as missiles. Crucially, two Garda officers were injured and hospitalised: one officer suffered an injury to their arm or shoulder, while another was struck on the head with a bottle. While the graduated policing response was stepped up, including the deployment of officers with riot shields, the water cannon was kept on standby and not used.
The total number of arrests across both nights has now reached 30, with many expected to appear in court soon on public order charges.
Political Condemnation and Robust Judicial Stance
Taoiseach Micheál Martin, speaking from an EU summit, vehemently condemned what he termed “shocking and thuggish attacks” on An Garda Síochána. He commended the officers for their “professional and courageous” behaviour and stressed that there would be a “very robust response from the criminal justice system,” stating that such actions “will not be tolerated.”
Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan, echoed the condemnation of the “thuggish violence” and affirmed a hard line, noting that those arrested will be “charged, named and dealt with ‘relentlessly'” by the justice system.
Fear Among Centre Residents
A spokesperson for the Ukrainian community, Anatoliy Prymakov, reported that families at the centre have been instructed to remain in their rooms and keep away from windows for their own safety. He expressed deep disappointment that families who have fled war are instead facing such chaos while seeking refuge.
The demonstrations were sparked by an incident where a man appeared in court charged with the alleged sexual assault of a girl in the early hours of Monday morning. An investigation to identify all individuals involved in the disorder is ongoing.
