Varadkar condemns violence at Dublin asylum seeker camp

The scene on a lane just off Sandwith Street Upper, in Dublin on Saturday following another night of protests in the area. Picture: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has condemned violence and opportunism after a confrontation at a Dublin asylum seeker encampment yesterday.

One man has been charged with a public order offence after the incident at Sandwith Street in Dublin city centre yesterday.

Protestors gathered yesterday for a second night in the south of Dublin close to where asylum seekers have pitched tents outside the International Protection Office (IPAS).

Anti-immigrant protestors were met by a group supporting the asylum seekers last night near where several tents are pitched on a small cul-de-sac off Sandwith St.

Video footage on social media showed a tense stand-off and a significant garda presence. 

Gardaí said that as the groups dispersed "some furniture and wooden pallets were set alight in a nearby laneway. No one was injured."  Picture: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie

Gardaí said that one man, aged in his 30s, was arrested under the Public Order Act.

The man was later charged and is due to appear before Dublin District Court later this month.

Videos circulating online last night appeared to show items that had been set on fire, indicating that tents and other items belonging to asylum seekers had been set alight.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner, Gardaí said that as the groups dispersed "some furniture and wooden pallets were set alight in a nearby laneway. No one was injured." 

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has condemned the violence "unreservedly".

"It is malign opportunism," he said.

"A tiny minority of people are clearly determined to make capital out of a difficult situation. The Gardaí are carrying out an investigation. We cannot tolerate actions such as this," he said.

Minister for Justice Simon Harris condemned the scenes calling it utterly appalling and unacceptable.

"Everyone in this country has a right to be safe. The right to protest is never a right to endanger or intimidate," he said on Saturday.

Sinn Féin TD Eoin Ó Brion said the incident was "racism pure and simple".

He continued: "Burning the tents of homeless people who have come to Ireland seeking international protection.

This is not who we are as a people. We are better than this."

On Thursday, a group of protestors had ripped down banners off poles in the area, which have since been re-erected.

In a statement to the Irish Examiner, gardaí said they “attended an incident" that occurred as Sandwith Street, Dublin 2 on Thursday evening. 

"No formal complaints were made to Gardaí," a spokesperson said.

“Gardaí are aware of footage being circulated on social media which occurred in the Sandwith Street area and an investigation into this incident is being carried out at Pearse Street Garda Station.

“Investigations are ongoing.” 

On Friday, gardaí said they had “no reports of any incidents from this location”.