Public order units have been deployed in Coolock for the second consecutive night as anti-asylum seeker protests continue.

Around 200 people gathered outside the heavily barricaded former Crowne Paints factory – the scene of last night’s violent clashes.

There have been a number of minor incidents reported this evening.

The Malahide road was closed briefly but has now reopened and Gardai say there are no injuries and no arrests.

'Very ugly'

Junior Minister Neale Richmond said the Government will continue to engage with communities about sites for asylum seekers, but he claims some people just want to cause trouble.

“We all knew that accommodation was going out into this site, we've known it for months, and there have been blockades, there have been protests, they've been very ugly,” he said. “

"That boiled over last night where some people took it upon themselves to throw petrol bombs and bricks, and I really, really am reluctant to use the term petrol bomb and protest in the same sentence - they're not the same.”

Government handling

Aontú leader and Meath West TD Peadar Tóibín said the Government is “not in control of Dublin”.

He's tonight called for a complete overhaul of the Government’s migration policy.

“I do think that a lot of the difficulties that are happening are happening as a result of the chaotic mismanagement of the immigration process by this Government,” he said.

“The Government has been on the back foot for the last two years in relation to the immigration crisis.

“We do want a process which is compassionate, but we also need common sense and the government hasn't got to act together in terms of this at all.”

With reporting from Teena Gates. 

Main image: Protestors wearing face coverings at the protest in Coolock today. Image: Photo: © RollingNews.ie