{"id":147212,"date":"2025-10-27T03:55:14","date_gmt":"2025-10-27T03:55:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/147212\/"},"modified":"2025-10-27T03:55:14","modified_gmt":"2025-10-27T03:55:14","slug":"how-x-was-used-to-fuel-days-of-dublin-rioting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/147212\/","title":{"rendered":"How X was used to fuel days of Dublin rioting"},"content":{"rendered":"

Misinformation spread rapidly on far-right social media accounts after the alleged sexual assault of a 10-year-old girl in Saggart, west Dublin, on Monday.<\/p>\n

Following a series of posts by well-known Irish agitators \u2013 amplified by international far-right figures<\/a> and a single word posted by the world\u2019s richest man to his 2.5 million followers \u2013 a mob began to gather outside the former Citywest Hotel, which now houses families, including school children, living under the international protection programme for asylum seekers.<\/p>\n

British far-right figure Tommy Robinson began posting his support for \u2018Irish patriots\u2019, and far-right podcaster Ezra Levant even flew in from Canada. But unlike during the riots in the capital in November 2023, this time, garda\u00ed were prepared for the mayhem that followed.<\/p>\n

\"Pic:Pic: Peter Summers\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

MONDAY, OCTOBER 20 <\/p>\n

2pm: News breaks of an alleged sexual assault of a 10-year-old girl in the grounds of Citywest Hotel.<\/p>\n

4.22pm UK extremist Tommy Robinson \u2013 real name Stephen Christopher Yaxley-Lennon \u2013 sees an opportunity to fan the flames. He posts on social media: \u2018Another day in Dublin. And another rape beside a migrant facility. Of course, legacy media and garda\u00ed just wrote \u201cman\u201d in their description.\u2019<\/p>\n

7pm: It\u2019s reported a 10-year-old girl was the victim of a serious sexual assault on the grounds of the hotel.<\/p>\n

7.16pm: Just minutes later, Irish far-right activist Michael O\u2019Keeffe shares the report to his 200,000-plus followers \u2013 who include billionaire Elon Musk \u2013 and posts: \u2018Breaking! An African asylum seeker is alleged to have raped a 10-year-old Irish girl on the grounds of a migrant facility in Dublin today.\u2019 It\u2019s viewed almost 75,000 times and shared over 300 times. News spreads on social media, as does talk of a protest at the hotel the following evening.<\/p>\n

7.50pm: Several far-right activists spread news of the alleged attack, including some elected councillors who encouraged people to protest at the hotel. Anti-immigration activist Philip Dwyer writes: \u2018Going Live from Citywest shortly. Standby. Please share.\u2019<\/p>\n

\"\"Protesters throw fireworks at Garda\u00ed\u00a0near the Citywest Hotel on Wednesday. Pic: Niall Carson\/PA Wire<\/p>\n

7.52pm: Tommy Robinson posts again: \u2018Crowds gathering at migrant plantation in Dublin following reports that a 10yr old girl being raped by an African invader!\u2019 <\/p>\n

8pm: Dublin city councillor Malachy Steenson posts: \u2018I appeal to people to remain calm until we have all the facts from Citywest.\u2019 But he adds: \u2018If what we have heard is true then this country should be brought to a standstill and this Government brought down. We must protect our children.\u2019<\/p>\n

Later, he tells Extra.ie that his post was \u2018an appeal for calm\u2019, adding: \u2018There is huge anger in the street.\u2019<\/p>\n

10.50pm: O\u2019Keeffe posts that the arrested man is allegedly a \u2018failed asylum seeker with an active deportation order since March\u2019. He also tells his followers: \u2018This man should not have been in Ireland.\u2019 Elon Musk reposts O\u2019Keeffe\u2019s message, with a single word: \u2018Terrible.\u2019 The post quickly goes viral, racking up 13 million views.<\/p>\n

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21 <\/p>\n

2.48am: Podcaster and CEO of the Canadian right-wing Rebel News website, Ezra Levante, who has millions of social media followers, posts that he is with his videographer at an airport about to board a flight to Dublin. \u2018I\u2019m flying to Dublin tonight to report on the most shocking crime imaginable: a migrant in one of Ireland\u2019s massive refugee camps has allegedly raped a 10-year-old Irish girl,\u2019 he writes. He also urges his followers to follow his upcoming reports.<\/p>\n

11am: Levante lands in Dublin. <\/p>\n

3.08pm: Activist Philip Dwyer posts: \u2018Citywest Plantation centre. Going Live at 7.30 for peaceful demonstration. Please come out and support this community after a ten-year-old child was sexually assaulted allegedly by an asylum seeker.\u2019<\/p>\n

7.06pm: Dwyer, who was prosecuted this year for failing to obey direction after garda bodycams were used for the first time, adds: \u2018Live from Citywest Hotel people trafficking centre Dublin where an alleged sexual assault of a ten-year-old girl took place allegedly by an asylum seeker. Please share.\u2019 <\/p>\n

He later told Extra: \u2018You haven\u2019t mentioned that poor child and the savage who was supposed to be deported who allegedly raped her\u2026. Shame on you\u2026 SHE WAS ONLY TEN\u2026 Now print that\u2026 I dare you.\u2019<\/p>\n

\"ElonPic: Angela Weiss\/AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n

8.28pm: Robinson encourages rioters and writes: \u2018Irish patriots on horseback with screams of \u201cthis is OUR land\u201d as thousands hit the streets of Dublin following a sex attack on a 10yr old child by an invader!\u2019<\/p>\n

8.41pm: O\u2019Keeffe warns his followers not to incriminate themselves posting footage.<\/p>\n

\u2018Folks, just a reminder, footage you post tonight can and will be used to jail protestors in the future.\u2019 Referring to the November 2023 riots, he adds: \u2018We fell into the trap 2 years ago after kids were stabbed in Dublin. I know everyone wants to post a juicy video, but think before you do.\u2019<\/p>\n

9.09pm: Far-right leader Justin Barrett and his wife Rebecca post about how they took their five children to witness the violent protest.<\/p>\n

9.21pm: Dougie Beattie of the right-leaning GB News channel reports that their crew was \u2018pepper-sprayed, smashed and knocked to the ground\u2019 in the riot.<\/p>\n

10.13pm: Ezra Levante posts that he\u2019s used to more \u2018passive\u2019 protests in Canada, calling the unfolding riot the \u2018wildest\u2019 of his life. Live footage shows him being pepper sprayed by garda\u00ed and, in his own words, \u2018sucker punched\u2019 by a rioter who called him a \u2018jew\u2019.<\/p>\n

Levante later tells his audience: \u2018Reporting from Dublin\u2019s massive refugee camp was one of the wildest days of my life!\u2019 Despite being attacked by a protestor, he insists: \u2018I loved being there tonight, so many Irish people stopped me to say hello. There was one person who didn\u2019t like me much. I was sneaked up on from behind and sucker punched.\u2019<\/p>\n

\"\"A Garda van burns near the Citywest Hotel. Pic: RollingNews.ie<\/p>\n

Yesterday, Levante told Extra he was not anti-immigrant and he has raised funds to help dozens of refugees from Iraq to relocate to the West (legally).<\/p>\n

\u2018I\u2019m also a Jew, and half of our Rebel News staff are immigrants or minorities,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n

Asked if his reporting might be seen as inflamatory, Levante responded: \u2018You are suggesting that this story would not have gone viral \u2013 and the crowd wouldn\u2019t have mustered \u2013 were it not for me and the other handful of people on your carefully curated list of political enemies.<\/p>\n

\u2018In fact, it was one of the largest news stories in the world this week. I see coverage in Qatar\u2019s Al Jazeera, in Turkey\u2019s TRT World, in Australia\u2019s ABC News, in France, Germany, Switzerland, India, etc., and of course all over the UK.\u2019<\/p>\n

He added: \u2018It seems like the real problem is that you don\u2019t like the cozy oligopoly of Irish media to have any competition \u2013 either in viewership or in ideology. You seem fixated on the number of viewers that rival reporters have received for this story. It sounds like you\u2019d prefer to have control over how the story is covered.\u2019<\/p>\n

\"\"Ezra Levante. Pic: YouTube<\/p>\n

11.28pm: As the night of rioting draws to a close, new Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly says in a statement of the shocking scenes at Citywest: \u2018This was obviously not a peaceful protest.<\/p>\n

\u2018The actions this evening can only be described as thuggery. This was a mob intent on violence against Garda\u00ed.\u2019<\/p>\n

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22 <\/p>\n

Three garda\u00ed are injured and 24 more people arrested in a second night of riots outside Citywest. Earlier, five men charged with various offences after Tuesday\u2019s rioting were granted bail after appearing in court.<\/p>\n

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23<\/p>\n

Seventeen adults are charged in court over the rioting. Garda\u00ed confirm that five arrested juveniles were released and will be dealt with under the Youth Diversion Programme. <\/p>\n

A third night of protests at Citywest ends peacefully but in Dublin\u2019s south inner city, another IPAS centre is attacked by a small group of thugs chanting \u2018get them out\u2019.<\/p>\n

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24 <\/p>\n

Security around Citywest remains tight with a large garda presence, but the situation remains calm as Ukraine families housed at the IPAS centre told RT\u00c9 news of their fears.<\/p>\n

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25 <\/p>\n

Two more people are charged over the Citywest riots as garda\u00ed continue to review CCTV and bodycam footage.<\/p>\n

Two males \u2013 a juvenile in his teens and a man in his 40s \u2013 appear in court charged over the rioting at Citywest. Garda\u00ed release more bodycam footage on their social media channels as they try to identify people involved in the rioting.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Misinformation spread rapidly on far-right social media accounts after the alleged sexual assault of a 10-year-old girl in…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":147213,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[9,10,18,13,14,6,19,17,11,12,15,16,5,7,8],"class_list":{"0":"post-147212","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-headlines","8":"tag-breaking-news","9":"tag-breakingnews","10":"tag-eire","11":"tag-featured-news","12":"tag-featurednews","13":"tag-headlines","14":"tag-ie","15":"tag-ireland","16":"tag-latest-news","17":"tag-latestnews","18":"tag-main-news","19":"tag-mainnews","20":"tag-news","21":"tag-top-stories","22":"tag-topstories"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@ie\/115444116812601129","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/147212","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=147212"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/147212\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/147213"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=147212"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=147212"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=147212"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}