Seventeen people charged after second night of disorder near asylum seeker hotel

Seventeen people have been charged after second night of disorder broke out near a hotel in West Dublin housing asylum seekers.

A third night of demonstrations were held at Citywest Hotel in Saggart after an alleged sexual assault on a 10-year-old girl in the vicinity of the hotel in the early hours of Monday morning.

A 26-year-old man, who cannot be named because of legal restrictions that apply to all sexual assault cases, appeared in court on Tuesday charged over the alleged incident.

A total of 24 people were arrested on Wednesday following an hours-long standoff with gardaí who were directly struck with fireworks, stones and other debris.

One garda was struck on the head by a bottle, while another sustained an arm or shoulder injury. Both were taken to hospital for medical attention.

The public order unit, dog unit, helicopter, and mounted garda unit were among a 300-strong garda response to try to quell a second night of violence outside the centre for asylum seekers.

The garda water cannon, which was on standby, was not deployed, with senior officers deeming it unnecessary.

The disturbances were said to have been “predominantly carried out by young adult males and teenagers.”

Protesters throw fireworks at Gardai officers near the Citywest Hotel, as disturbances have flared outside the Dublin hotel which used to house asylum seekers. Picture: Niall Carson/PA

Seventeen people have been charged after second night of disorder broke out near a hotel in West Dublin housing asylum seekers.

A third night of demonstrations were held at Citywest Hotel in Saggart after an alleged sexual assault on a 10-year-old girl in the vicinity of the hotel in the early hours of Monday morning.

A 26-year-old man, who cannot be named because of legal restrictions that apply to all sexual assault cases, appeared in court on Tuesday charged over the alleged incident.

A total of 24 people were arrested on Wednesday following an hours-long standoff with gardaí who were directly struck with fireworks, stones and other debris.

A major investigation into the public disorder incidents on Tuesday and Wednesday is being led by a Senior Investigating Officer from an incident room at Clondalkin Garda Station.

Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly, who visited the scene in the aftermath of the violence, told reporters on Wednesday he is “determined” that further people will be “brought before the courts to face justice”.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has condemned the “shocking rioting” saying gardaí are in place to protect communities and it was “shocking” they were attacked overnight.

Speaking in Brussells, Mr Martin said: “There will be a very robust response from the criminal justice system. This is something that will not be tolerated.

“I know the Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan is working with the Garda Commissioner in relation to all of this, and our thoughts are with those who have been injured.

“We will continue to resist this type of behaviour.”

Garda intelligence service probes 'command and control' role of leaders

The Garda Security and Intelligence Service is investigating if any far-right individuals or groups have been taking a “command and control” role in the violent protests at Citywest, Dublin.

As investigators work to identify the ringleaders of the protests, there is concern that the fractured and unstructured nature of the far-right, anti-migrant movement in Ireland could make it difficult to pinpoint those who may be directing the violence.

It comes as five people were charged with various offences following the rioting near Citywest Hotel on Tuesday.

Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly said further arrests are expected, adding that the gardaí are prepared for repeat protests.

Steel barriers were put in place early yesterday in preparation for last night's violence, and residents in the Citywest centre were advised to be home before 5pm.

The protests were organised following an alleged sexual assault on a 10-year-old girl near the Citywest Hotel early on Monday.

Protesters throw fireworks at Gardai officers near the Citywest Hotel in Saggart, as disturbances have flared outside the Dublin hotel which used to house asylum seekers. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire

International far-right agitators, including Britain’s Tommy Robinson, stoked the protests online and continued yesterday, while X owner Elon Musk retweeted posts about the alleged sex attack, boosting one Irish far-right account’s post to 11.5m views.

Security sources have explained that calling for a protest is not a crime and that, while the same posts make clear that violence may happen, unless they clearly call on people to commit violence, there are significant difficulties gathering sufficient evidence to convince the DPP to bring charges.

Another complicating factor for investigators is that much of the violence — such as throwing bottles or bricks at gardaí or setting garda vehicles on fire — is carried out by masked “recreational rioters”, many of them youths, with little or no linkage to, or interest in, far-right groups or politics.

Protesters throw fireworks at Gardai officers near the Citywest Hotel in Saggart, as disturbances have flared outside the Dublin hotel which used to house asylum seekers. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire

Niamh McDonald, of Hope and Courage Collective, which monitors far-right hate and disinformation, said social media had “amplified hateful content”, including “clear incitement to violence”. 

A British influencer livestreamed from the protest on Tuesday alongside multiple Irish far-right, anti-migrant activists.

The Hope and Courage Collective estimates that there were 1.18m views of riot content between 7.20pm and 8.56pm on Tuesday.

More than 1,000 people gathered at the gates of Citywest Hotel, with trouble flaring from about 7pm.

Youths stole bottle recycling bins from the entrance and flung volley after volley of bottles at the public order gardaí, who protected themselves with large shields.

Bricks, chunks of wall masonry, and fireworks were also fired at gardaí.

Irish online accounts have been calling for protests at Citywest since Monday.

Gardai officers block protesters near the Citywest Hotel, as disturbances have flared outside the Dublin hotel which used to house asylum seekers. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire

A TikTok post, with some 500,000 views, called for people to attend “a huge protest” outside Citywest.

Another group involved is the “Say No” anti-migrant movement, which potentially shows an “element of co-ordination”, according to security sources.

Mr Kelly condemned the violence, saying peaceful protest doesn’t involve “throwing bricks, bottles, and discharging fireworks” directly at gardaí, trying to breach garda cordons with “horses or scrambler motorbikes”, protesters “arming themselves with weapons”, or burning garda vehicles.

“This was violence with the intent to damage the Citywest building and intimidate those within,” he said. 

Gardaí are conscious of the heavy involvement of international players on the Irish far-right scene.

Protesters throw fireworks at Gardai officers near the Citywest Hotel, as disturbances have flared outside the Dublin hotel which used to house asylum seekers. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire

In addition to Tommy Robinson, Ezra Levant — a Canadian conservative online influencer who founded the far-right Rebel News website — flew to Ireland from Canada for the protest.

Don Keith, a self-described “American patriot” who boasts 165,000 followers on X, urged people to join the protests and “get your country back”. He went on to quote numerous videos.

“Social media has amplified hateful content and in many cases clear incitement to violence was not removed in the lead-up to the violence and destruction outside Citywest,” said Ms McDonald.

 - additional reporting from PA