Gardaí hurt in Dollymount violence

Sixteen people could face charges after fighting on a Dublin beach left officers injured and their patrol car windscreen smashed.

Violence broke out on north Dublin’s Dollymount Strand after a music event attended by more than 10,000 people yesterday.

Around 100 people were involved in the disturbances in sand dunes on the beach.

When officers intervened bottles, cans and stones were thrown and four of them suffered minor injuries. Gardaí made 16 arrests during the disturbance. All were later released on bail.

A garda spokesman denied reports that the trouble amounted to a riot and said order was restored in around six or seven minutes.

A number of gardaí were already present at the event and riot police on standby at a nearby football match were called to help.

A spokesman said: “We didn’t anticipate anything of this nature happening.”

Of those questioned three were female and a number were juveniles.