Some 48 people have been arrested in relation to riots and unrest in Dublin since Thursday, Justice Minister Helen McEntee has announced. 

She also announced additional funding of €4.4 million for the purchase of 95 extra Garda cars and vans by the end of this year. 

“This includes 17 high visibility public order Garda vans which will be deployed in our towns and cities across the country to provide further reassurance for people, businesses and communities,” she said. 

It also includes 38 new fully electric patrol cars and 40 unmarked surveillance cars. 

This is in addition to 10 high visibility community policing vans which are currently being prepared for deployment. 

'They will be brought to justice'

Minister McEntee met with Garda Commissioner Drew Harris and Gardaí in Pearse Street and the Bridewell following the riots on Thursday night.

She said Mr Harris and An Garda Síochána have her “full support to maintain order”. 

“Those responsible will be brought to justice,” she said. 

The dog unit and the mounted unit are also being deployed, and two water cannons are now available for use if required, according to Ms McEntee. 

She said her “thoughts remain with the young children and their crèche worker who were so viciously assaulted on Thursday”. 

“The children, their carer, their families, friends and those who are caring for them must remain at the forefront of our thoughts this weekend,” she said. 

Gardaí at the scene where a woman and three children were attacked in Parnell Square in Dublin, 23-11-2023. Image: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews

Three children, two girls aged five and six and a boy aged five, and one woman were stabbed on Thursday afternoon outside a school on Parnell Square East. 

Another man who is a ‘person of interest’ to Gardaí in investigations was also injured and is in hospital. 

It is understood that the man first attacked a woman near the school before attacking the children, until he was apprehended by people in the area at the time.  

Gardaí said they are following a “definite line of inquiry” and are not looking for anyone else at this time. 

Riots in city centre

The six-year-old girl and five-year-old boy have been discharged from hospital, while the five-year-old girl remains in critical condition. 

The woman, who worked in the school, also remains in hospital. 

Violence broke out in Dublin’s city centre following the knife attack, with major damage to several shops and a bus and Luas tram set on fire. 

Many who were arrested amid the riots have appeared in court.