Vehicles burnt out and shops looted in Dublin as protesters clash with gardaí following knife attack
A bus and car on fire on O'Connell Street in Dublin city centre after violent scenes unfolded there this evening. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire
- Major unrest in Dublin City following a knife attack on three young children and a woman in the capital
- Violent clashes between protestors and gardaí
- Several vehicles set alight, including at least two garda patrol cars, two double-decker buses, and a Luas tram
- Widespread travel disruption as Dublin Bus and Luas services suspended
- Looting reported at stores in the city centre, including Arnotts and Foot Locker on O'Connell St
- Rotunda Hospital advises people not to travel to the hospital unless absolutely necessary
- Justice Minister: 'There will be arrests, people will be put in prison and order will be restored'
Vehicles including a Luas tram, two double-decker buses, and garda patrol cars were set on fire in Dublin city as gardaí from the public order unit attempted to contain riots after the stabbing of three young children and a woman in Dublin's Parnell Square on Thursday afternoon.
A Garda public order unit was deployed in the area around Parnell Square, Parnell Street and O’Connell Street early in the evening as anti-immigrant protesters became involved in clashes with gardaí.
Around 150 protesters were in the area with fireworks being set off in various locations.
The protests then spread to other areas of the capital. Shortly before 7pm, a gardaí car was set on fire, while other fires burned on the opposite side of O'Connell St and on O'Connell Street Bridge.
Rioters also attacked a Luas tram on St Stephen's Green, smashing several of its windows before setting it on fire. Some stores in the vicinity of O'Connell Street were then looted.
Many of those in the crowd appeared to be men in their 20s faces covered, screaming "get them out".
As of 8.35pm, uniformed Gardaí and members of the Public Order Unit were attempting to disperse crowds gathered on O'Connell Street and surrounding streets as a garda helicopter monitored the situation from above.
A spokesperson for Dublin Bus said that all of its services have been called back to base as a result of the unrest. All Luas services were suspended, while Irish Rail stated that Tara St Station would close for the remainder of the night.
Management of the Rotunda Hospital advised people not to attend the hospital unless absolutely necessary.
By 10.30pm, gardaí said the streets were "mainly calm" but officers would continue to "be present and on patrol the city centre in large numbers".
Speaking late on Thursday night, Chief Superintendent Patrick McMenamin said that while some Gardaí were assaulted, none were seriously injured.
He added: "This violence had nothing to do with the violent assault which occurred on Parnell Square this afternoon. It was gratuitous thuggery.
"Public transport was attacked, Garda vehicles were damaged and some commercial businesses were attacked.
"Thankfully, no serious injuries have been reported by the public as a result of tonight’s violence."
The protests occurred after a stabbing incident outside a primary school. A five-year-old girl is undergoing emergency treatment following the knife attack.
A woman was also seriously injured in the incident. She is being treated at the Mater Hospital.
Two other young children - a boy, 5, and a girl, 6, - were also hospitalised with minor injuries. The boy has since been discharged.
An adult male in his 40s is also being treated for serious injuries at a Hospital in the Dublin Region. Gardaí have confirmed that the man is a "person of interest" and that they are not looking for anyone else in relation to the incident.
On Thursday evening, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris condemned the "disgraceful scenes" of disorder in Dublin and said that resources were being drafted in to deal with the situation.
The commissioner said a “complete lunatic faction driven by far-right ideology” is behind disorder in Dublin this evening.
He said a number of garda vehicles have been damaged.
“I think there’s disgraceful scenes in terms of a major investigation, the maintenance of a scene and the gathering of evidence,” he told media during a press conference at Mountjoy Garda Station.
“We have a complete lunatic hooligan faction driven by far-right ideology, and also then this disruptive tendency engaged in serious violence.
“We are drafting in resources to deal with that and that will be dealt with properly. I’ve given full direction to our resources here in respect of making arrests and bringing offenders to justice.
“It’s our responsibility to make sure that we police the streets, and part of that is we ask people to act responsibly and not to listen to the misinformation and rumour that is circulating on social media.
“The facts are being established, but the facts are still not clear on a lot of the rumour and the innuendo is being spread for malevolent purposes.”
He urged people not to listen to "misinformation" and said that gardaí were working to establish the facts of the stabbing incident.
Justice Minister Helen McEntee described the protests in Dublin as "thuggish", adding that the scenes "cannot be tolerated"
Speaking on RTÉ’s Ms McEntee said described the stabbing incident as “devastating”.
She said: “What we are witnessing this evening is a small group of people who do not represent me or the vast majority of people in this country who are using this appalling act to wreak havoc and to sow division."
She said those involved were "thugs" and "criminals" and that that was how they would treated.”
Ms McEntee went on to say there had been “many arrests, there will continue to be arrests” in connection with the disorder.
Finance Minister Michael McGrath said: "The tiny minority of thugs on the streets of Dublin tonight do not represent or define our country.
"They seized on a horrific crime to let rip & attack their own city. They have disgraced themselves. The heroes tonight are our incredible Gardaí."
In a statement, President Michael D Higgins said that "all of our thoughts" were the children and their families affected by Thursday's" horrific attack."
"We are particularly thinking of the five-year-old girl and the member of staff caring for her who are both in serious condition in hospital. All of our prayers are with each of them for a full recovery," he said.
President Higgins said gardaí deserved support in dealing with this incident.
"This appalling incident is a matter for the Gardaí and that it would be used or abused by groups with an agenda that attacks the principle of social inclusion is reprehensible and deserves condemnation by all those who believe in the rule of law and democracy," he added.
- Get breaking news directly to your phone with the Irish Examiner WhatsApp Channel.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
