23 people have been arrested during a second night of disturbances at the Citywest accommodation centre in Dublin which gardaí say was predominantly carried out by teenagers and young adult males.
Missiles and fireworks were thrown at gardaí and the public order unit along with other specialist units were deployed to disperse the crowd.
Over 300 gardaí were involved in policing the protests. Two were injured and taken to hospital.
The Minister for Justice has commended the gardaí on the professionalism of the policing operation.
The policing operation began just before 7pm as gardaí prevented protesters arriving at Citywest from gathering in large numbers to form a critical mass.
Uniformed gardaí in soft caps directed people to leave the area under Section 8 of the Public Order Act
They also linked arms and formed lines which protesters tried to breach and were subjected to verbal abuse .
Missiles were thrown at gardaí, two were injured, one in the arm or shoulder, while one officer was hit on the head with a bottle. Both were treated in hospital.
Fireworks were also fired at gardaí and the graduated policing response was escalated and groups of men broke masonry off the road and the Luas stop to throw at gardaí.
The public order and mounted units were deployed to push protesters back as the graduated policing plan was stepped up. The water cannon was on standby but not used.
Many were so-called “recreational protesters”, teenagers and young adults with their faces covered and hoods up travelling on e-scooters and bikes.
The air support and dog units along with 150 uniform gardaí and 120 public order officers were also involved.
The investigation is ongoing to identify all those involved.
A total of 30 people have now been arrested, many are expected in court on public order charges later today.
It comes after round 2,000 people attended a demonstration last night outside the facility.
A number of hooded and masked protesters hurled missiles and fireworks at gardaí, vandalised a Luas stop and set a garda van on fire.
Five men were arrested last night and charged.
Gardaí patrolling Citywest as public urged to stay away
Watch: Crime Correspondent Paul Reynolds reports live on RTÉ’s Nine O’Clock News
Members of the public being moved away from the area by gardaí
Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly earlier warned against further public disorder and promised a “robust response” to any violence.
The Dublin city centre riots of two years show, he said, that “young males influenced by online content are the ones that end up in prison.
“Reckless decisions may affect the course of your future,” he said.
The Commissioner also said that last night’s protest was not peaceful and involved “violence with intent to damage Citywest and those within.”
He also said that he was “determined” that “further persons will be identified and brought before the courts.”
Commissioner Kelly also commended the courage of gardaí on duty last night.
Watch: Garda conduct forensic examination of Citywest scene
One female garda was injured during the violence.
Commissioner Kelly described as “thuggery” from “a mob intent on violence”.
A number of homes in the area were left without power after meter boxes were damaged when bricks were removed to be used as missiles.
Local residents, who did not wish to be identified, condemned the violence and said they were afraid.
The protest began after a man appeared in court charged with the sexual assault of a girl two days ago.
Tusla said that it has put additional family support and counselling in place and opened a helpline for people in the area with child protection concerns.
The number is 1800 805 665 and the helpline is open from between 10am and 5pm from Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays.
Watch: Clean up in aftermath of Citywest protest
The violence was orchestrated and preplanned online, according to the officer in charge of the policing operation.
Chief Superintendent Michael McNulty described the event as “a public gathering organised by disparate groups on social media who stir up hatred and violence and encourage others to get involved”.
Gardaí had intelligence that violence was being planned last night and issued a call out two hours before the protest began to trained public order members from outside the Dublin region to report for duty if available.
Officers from Kildare, Laois, Wicklow, Wexford and Waterford responded and travelled to Citywest to support the operation.
Commissioner Kelly said while gardaí facilitate peaceful action on daily basis, “this was obviously not a peaceful protest”.
Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly visited the scene
“This violent disorder impacted the local community, business and public transport in the Saggart area directly affecting local residents. This is totally unacceptable,” he said.
Acting Deputy Garda Commissioner Paul Cleary said the violence was unacceptable and public safely was threatened.
He said these types of demonstrations are organised online and involve a number of different groups.
“You had everything from some peaceful protesters, you had youths on horses, on scrambler motorcycles.
“You had violent dogs there who were there purely there to promote violent and incite fear.”
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Mr Cleary said that gardaí will be relentless in their pursuit of those involved.
“It was a violent riot driven by thugs intent on violence, and it wasn’t just an attack on gardaí, it was an attack on community safety, and we won’t tolerate that.
“So I want to reassure the public that we were able to contain that violent disorder last night, restore public order, and we will be prepared for any future incidents of violence that might erupt.”
Watch: Garda van set on fire during disorder in Citywest
Taoiseach Micheál Martin “strongly condemned” the violent disorder and paid tribute to the courage of gardaí who restored order quickly.
Tánaiste Simon Harris said: “There is no excuse for this type of violence and thuggery against the men and women who serve to protect us and victims of crime every day.”
“Those who burn out garda vehicles, throw missiles, vandalise our streets, engage in intimidation and worse, can never get the idea this city is theirs for the taking. It’s not. It’s ours.”
Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan described the violence as unacceptable “by people who wish to sow dissent in our society”.
A garda van was burned out during the disorder
Meanwhile, Dublin’s Catholic Archbishop described the scenes in Saggart last night as “thuggery”.
Archbishop Dermot Farrell said people needed to “call out” what happened for what it was.
Speaking at the Autumn Catholic Bishops’ Conference in Maynooth, Archbishop Farrell said his thoughts and prayers were with gardaí who were trying to keep order.
“It was a terrible attack on the forces of law and order in our country, and that has to be called out in the very first instance.”
The Archbishop said the threat to life last night was serious, and he added that those who have come to Ireland seeking a safe haven need to be cared for.
“Hatred and violence aren’t going to solve the issues we have in our country,” he said.
We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
The Garda Public Order Unit blocked roads in the Citywest area, after violence broke out yesterday evening.
The protesters were dispersed after two-and-a-half hours and calm was restored.
Groups of demonstrators hurled abuse at gardaí. Some, including men on horses and a sulky, tried to breach garda lines but were guided away by unarmed, uniformed officers wearing soft caps.
The situation turned violent as groups of young men, some wearing hoods with their faces covered, hurled traffic cones, bricks, bottles and other missiles at gardaí.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin ‘strongly condemned’ the violent disorder
Bins were also emptied and their contents used as missiles.
Gardaí say individuals were seen carrying tools and garden forks and damaging property in the area. The garda helicopter was targeted with lasers.
Fireworks and rockets were also fired at a line of gardaí across Citywest Drive.
Watch: Gardaí and protesters in a standoff at Citywest
Pepper spray was used against protesters who tried to breach garda lines, with gardaí saying they adopted a graduated response to the violence.
It is the first time that An Garda Síochána deployed its own water cannon, which was purchased after the riots in Dublin city centre two years ago, but the large water spray guns were not used as the protesters dispersed in front of advancing gardaí.
Luas and Dublin bus services to Saggart were suspended for a time.
Calm was restored by 10pm last night.
Calm was restored after two-and-a-half hours
Over 300 gardaí, including 125 in uniform as well as public order and specialist units, were deployed in the policing operation.
Dublin Fire Brigade said it supported various agencies in the clean up following the civil disturbances at Citywest.
No injuries were reported to fire brigade personnel.