Drew Harris: Gardaí faced prospect of 'frightening stampede' at anti-lockdown protest

An anti-lockdown protest turned violent this week, as protestors on Grafton Street in Dublin were arrested by Gardaí. Picture: Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie

Gardaí were confronted with the prospect of a “very frightening stampede” by anti-lockdown and far-right protestors on Grafton Street when they moved in to arrest 11 of them on Thursday night, the Garda Commissioner has said.

Drew Harris said these groups had already shown a “propensity to violence” and said Garda intelligence shows the actual intention of these protests is to conduct “unlawful” activity, such as disrupting Government business.