Gardaí brace themselves for right-wing protest 

People attend an anti-mask protest organised by Health Free Ireland at Custom House in Dublin last week. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire

When protests have their own version of a “private security” detail, gardaí have a good idea they are dealing with a potentially serious situation.

Such was the case at the ‘anti-mask’ protest outside the Dáil four weeks ago, where counter-protestor Izzy Kamikaze was struck on the head by a man brandishing a large wooden plank wrapped in the tricolour.