Taoiseach: Violent rioting 'will not be tolerated'

Micheál Martin said his thoughts were with the gardaí who were injured policing the riot near Citywest

A Garda van that was set alighduring Tuesday night's riot in Dublin. Picture: Colin Keegan/Collins

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has condemned the “shocking rioting” in Citywest on Wednesday night, after 17 people were charged and two Gardaí hospitalised in the overnight disorder.

Speaking in Brussels, Mr Martin said Gardaí are in place to protect communities and that gardaí being attacked overnight would "not be tolerated".

“There will be a very robust response from the criminal justice system.” Mr Martin said.

“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.”

Mr Martin said the gardaí on Wednesday night had “behaved very professionally and very courageously and bravely”.

Justice minister Jim O’Callaghan also praised the work of the Gardaí, criticising the “thuggish violence” at the scene in Citywest.

Many have been arrested, and more will follow. They will be charged, named, and dealt with relentlessly by our criminal justice system.

Tánaiste Simon Harris said what happened in Citywest over Tuesday and Wednesday nights was “downright thuggery and lawlessness”.

“There should always be a space in democracy for discussion and debate. It’s important to debate and discuss migration,” Mr Harris said.

“What we saw last night was nothing to do with that. We saw last night was thuggery.”

Mr Harris added that there was swift action from gardaí, citing the 17 individuals who have been charged after the riot.

Protesters face off against gardaí on Wednesday night, the second night in a row of rioting. Picture: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie

“That sort of zero tolerance approach to thuggery is what we need to continue to see in this country,” the Tánaiste added.

The Fine Gael leader added his thoughts were with the gardaí who were injured overnight.

It comes as there were several Gardaí injured on Wednesday, with four in hospital due to their injuries.

Over the course of Wednesday night’s riot, there were 24 people arrested. There were 17 adults charged, while five male juveniles were instead referred to the Youth Diversion Programme.

The Social Democrats' justice spokesperson, Gary Gannon, said he was concerned about the level of violence seen over the last two days, citing attacks against gardaí and homeowners having walls torn apart to be used as missiles.

Mr Gannon said the scenes would have been “terrifying” for the children and adults living in the Citywest accommodation centre.

He added that arrests being made should not stop at the individuals taking part in the rioting, but that gardaí must target people who are inciting violence.

I think the people who are instigating it also need to be pursued, and that was one of the big failures of the 2023 riots.

“The people who were instigating these things online, they’re the ones who didn’t feel any consequences.

“I think what Jim O’Callaghan absolutely has to be doing now is taking the threat seriously of the people who are mobilising these groups, encouraging them, instigating them.

“That cannot go without consequence because there’s a playbook here.”

Mr Gannon said the Government should act to strengthen laws in place surrounding incitement, while also warning that someone could be killed if the violence continues.

“When you say somebody is going to be killed, it’s not difficult to see how,” Mr Gannon said, citing the use of bricks, fireworks and other missiles against gardaí.