Dublin rioters could face jail terms of up to 10 years, justice minister says
A bus on fire on O'Connell Street in Dublin city centre after violent scenes unfolded following an attack on Parnell Square East where five people were injured, including three young children.
The Minister for Justice has said the "violent thugs and criminals" who engaged in disorder in Dublin last night could face up to ten years in prison.
Some 34 people have been arrested following “huge destruction by a riotous mob” in Dublin, the garda commissioner said on Friday morning.
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said one Garda officer received a serious injury, with “numerous other members injured” as missiles were thrown at them.
He said 13 shops have been significantly damaged or subjected to looting and 11 Garda cars were damaged during the chaotic scenes in the aftermath of a knife attack which left three young children and a woman injured.
Later, 32 people are to appear before court in the city.
Minister Helen McEntee said gardaí will be combing through thousands of hours worth of CCTV footage from Thursday evening.
She described it as a “very volatile situation” and said there would be a very strong gardaí presence in Dublin after the violent scenes.
“A number were intent on causing nothing but havoc, on looting, on rioting and causing disruption and they will be dealt with appropriately,” Ms McEntee told RTÉ's Morning Ireland on Friday.
“Thirty-four people have been arrested. They will, for the most part, be before the court today.
"There are thousands of hours of CCTV footage that gardaí will go through, many didn’t cover their faces, that CCTV will be gone through and they will be apprehended and they will be brought before the courts as well.
“We have very, very strong legislation – up to 10 years in prison with up to 12 years as well for someone who assaulted a member of An Garda Síochána," she added.
Ms McEntee said while the scenes in Dublin on Thursday were shocking, gardaí “contained this for the most part to a very small area”.
“This was our main thoroughfare and I acknowledge that and I think the scenes are incomprehensible."
“By midnight last night order had been restored to our city, but this was a violent mob of thugs and criminals whose sole focus was to wreak havoc and it is a very volatile situation.
“There were a huge number of gardaí who were assaulted, who were spat at, who were the victims of vitriol and hate themselves.
“I cannot commend them enough. I think they responded in the way that they felt was appropriate and that was required, and they are trained. They’re the people on the ground who do this day in, day out."
Ms McEntee added that gardaí will adapt their response from what happened on Thursday evening and make sure that from Friday morning onwards a strong presence will be present and that "they stop any type of gathering like this from happening again."
“There will be a very strong presence on the ground, but they will of course monitor any movement, any chat, or anything that’s happening online today," she said.
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