Protest at Citywest takes place without incident after previous disorder

A protester near the Citywest Hotel in Saggart, where disturbances have flared outside the Dublin hotel which used to house asylum seekers. 

A peaceful protest has taken place at a hotel which houses asylum seekers for the second night in a row after disorder broke out earlier in the week.

People gathered at Citywest Hotel in Saggart on Friday where candles were lit and children held signs saying “I want to be safe”.

The disorder broke out after an alleged sexual assault on a 10-year-old girl in the vicinity of the hotel on Monday.

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

Protests have been held at the Citywest Hotel for the past four nights, with the disorder breaking out on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Protesters have carried Irish flags, chanted anti-immigration slogans and thrown missiles.

The Irish police force, An Garda Siochana, had a public order unit, a mounted unit, a dog unit, and a water canon at the scene, as well as a police helicopter in response to the incidents.

The violent clashes led to four gardaí being injured, more than 30 arrests, vandalism and arson in the area.

Gardai said they would maintain a presence in the area for the next four days, and are engaging with the local community in relation to the incidents.

On Thursday, senior gardaí appealed to young males in particular not to get “swept up” in the disorder, and warned their actions could have “reverberations” that adversely affect their futures.

Assistant Commissioner Cliona Richardson said it appeared people were coming from outside Dublin to attend the incidents.

Gardai have also released footage on social media of body-worn camera footage to show what they said was “a very vivid picture” of the challenges gardaí were facing, and said it “justifies the response”.

Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan has said those involved in disorder will be met with a “very forceful response”, adding that while people are entitled to oppose government policy, they are not entitled to break the law.