Gardaí intervene at eviction at Dublin property
Gardaí said: "No arrests were made at the scene and there were no reports of any injuries."
Gardaí have intervened at protests against an eviction action at a property in Dublin 7.
Images dispersed on social media showed heated exchanges at the property on Prussia St in Stoneybatter as protesters gathered at the scene of what they claimed was an 'illegal eviction'.
It's understood a number of people had been squatting at the property, which it's believed has been unused in relation to formal housing for a number of years, with some people claiming it was effectively a derelict site.
In a statement, Gardaí said officers from the Bridewell Station attended at a property on Prussia Street, Dublin, on Wednesday morning where a property owner, in compliance with a court order, was securing a premises and facilitating access to persons to remove personal items.
"A group of people gathered at the scene, some of whom commenced to engage in purported protest activity," the Garda Press Office said.
"A traffic management operation was put in place and the road was closed temporarily for public safety. The matter has since concluded and the road has fully reopened to traffic.
"No arrests were made at the scene and there were no reports of any injuries, however, An Garda Síochána will carry out further investigations into certain activities arising from the incident."
A Garda spokesperson said there would be no further comment in relation to the matter.
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That Social Centre, a group operating out of Stoneybatter that has showcased workshops and events in the area, tweeted that people had been injured in the incident and that parts of the property had been damaged.
Community Action Tenants Union urged people via social media to go to the address on Prussia St following what it described as "this morning's Gardai-heavy eviction"
The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) has questioned whether the garda response, which it said included a helicopter presence, was proportionate to the situation.
Doireann Ansbro, Head of Legal and Policy at ICCL, said there is "no legal basis" for gardaí to facilitate private evictions citing it as a civil matter unless there is criminal behaviour.
"ICCL and the Garda Ombudsman (GSOC) have been asking questions about garda policy around private evictions for years," said Ms Ansbro.
"An Garda Síochána should immediately produce guidelines for its members on evictions."
Ms Ansbro said there have been reports of injuries coming from the eviction.
"The Garda Commissioner should immediately clarify whether any of these injuries were inflicted by gardaí and if so a full and comprehensive report should be produced and cases should be referred to GSOC.
"The Commissioner should also clarify whether the garda response, including a helicopter presence, was proportionate to the situation on the ground."
