Garda van set alight and fireworks launched at gardaí during Citywest protest
A garda van on fire outside Citywest Hotel, Saggart on Tuesday night. Picture; Collins
A garda van was set alight and fireworks were launched at gardaí policing a large protest near the Citywest Hotel in Dublin on Tuesday night.
Approximately 1,000 protesters gathered outside the hotel - which is used by the State as accommodation for international protection applicants - from the early evening.
The protest was organised in the wake of an alleged sexual assault, which took took place on nearby Garter Lane in Saggart on Monday.
Anti-immigration groups and some far-right political groups had been promoting the protest on social media throughout the day on Tuesday.
Footage on social media showed several hundred protesters, many of whom were holding Irish flags and chanting anti-immigration slogans, assembled in the area.
A large number of gardaí in public order gear were stationed near the hotel, and formed a barrier to prevent protesters from accessing the centre.
Pepper spray was later used by gardaí. In one video circulating on X, protesters could be seen throwing rocks and shards of broken glass at the assembled gardaí.
The Garda helicopter was also seen hovering overhead and a water cannon was also deployed to the scene.
Earlier in the evening, the company which operates the Luas said services between the Belgard and Saggart stops were suspended following a directive from gardaí.
The protesters began to clear from around 10.30pm.
Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan condemned the disorder.
"People threw missiles at gardaí, threw fireworks at them, and set a Garda vehicle on fire. This is unacceptable and will result in a forceful response from the gardai. Those involved will be brought to justice," he said in a statement.
Referencing the alleged sexual assault in the area on Monday, he said: "As has been made clear during the day, a man has been arrested and charged before the courts in relation to the alleged incident.
"While I am not in a position to comment any further on this criminal investigation, I have been advised that there is no ongoing threat to public safety in the area."
Mr O'Callaghan said that the "weaponising of a crime by people who wish to sow dissent in our society is not unexpected".
"It is clear to me from talking to colleagues during the day and this evening that this violence does not reflect the people of Saggart. They are not the people participating in this criminality, but rather the people sitting at home in fear of it."
He said attacks on gardaí would not be tolerated.
"Peaceful protest is a cornerstone of our democracy. Violence is not. There is no excuse for the scenes we have witnessed tonight."
Echoing the Minister's remarks, Taoiseach Micheál Martin paid tribute to the frontline gardaí who he said had "acted courageously and quickly to restore order".
"The Minister for Justice and Garda Commissioner have briefed me on the operation, and I thank everyone for their work," he said.
"An Garda Síochána protect us all and have a proud tradition of service to the Irish people.
"There can be no justification for the vile abuse against them, or the attempted assaults and attacks on members of the force that will shock all right-thinking people."
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