The Taoiseach has said the ‘sheer thuggery’ on display in Coolock yesterday ‘will not be tolerated in this country’.
Some 19 people were arrested after a day of violence and disorder in North Dublin yesterday.
A security guard and several Gardaí were injured during the unrest with rocks, fireworks and other objects thrown at Gardaí as the violence escalated.
Several Garda cars were seriously damaged during the disorder – with videos posted to social media showing people jumping on top of them and attempting to smash in windows.
Fireworks and rocks being thrown at gardaí. Image: Eamonn Farrell/RollingNewsThe unrest began when a protest outside a former factory that has been earmarked for asylum seeker accommodation turned violent.
More than 200 Gardaí were deployed to the area throughout the day, including Public Order units, the Air Support Unit and the Dog Unit.
Gardaí used pepper spray to disperse the crowds and wore public order helmets and shields.
They were also wearing bodycams – with the Justice Minister expressing her hope that the footage will lead to further arrests.
“When you decide to use a petrol bomb, you lose your right to be called a protester.”
The Taoiseach says the ‘sheer thuggery’ on display in Coolock yesterday ‘will not be tolerated in this country.'
— NewstalkFM (@NewstalkFM) July 16, 2024
Speaking before Cabinet this morning, the Taoiseach Simon Harris thanked emergency services for responding to what he labelled an “utterly reprehensible and despicable situation”.
“I must say I am somewhat perplexed that this morning I still hear in media and political discourse reference to ‘protesters,’” he said.
“Just to be very clear, when you decide to use a petrol bomb, you lose your right to be called a protester.
“I am not quite sure why we have decided to, in any manner or means, legitimise, in any way shape or form, the actions of people who engaged in sheer thuggery yesterday evening and tried to harm the men and women of An Garda Síochána, disrupt a community and cause utter chaos.”
Members of the Garda Public Order Unit confronting violent scenes in Coolock. Image: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNewsMr Harris rejected claims that the violence could have been avoided if Government had engaged more with the community on the planned asylum seeker centre.
“I really resent that assertion,” he said.
“I think, when we go down that road, I think it engages in such a degree of whataboutery that it entirely distracts from the issue.
“Everybody knew this facility was going to be used to provide shelter for migrants.
“People can agree or disagree, but no amount of community engagement is required to tell somebody not to throw a brick, not to set a digger on fire, not to harm a security guard and not to put the men and women of An Garda Síochána in danger.”
'This will not be tolerated'
He said Government would look to engage with “good decent people across the country who want to talk about legitimate issues” – but insisted the violence in Coolock was “sheer thuggery and it should be called out as such”.
He said similar violent scenes “will not be tolerated in this country”.
“This is not a protest,” he said. “This is not an issue of community engagement.
“This is an issue of a relatively small number of people who think they have a right to do whatever the hell they like in this country.
“Who show absolute disdain for the laws of our land – disdain for the men and women of An Garda Síochána and disdain and disrespect for people going out and doing a day’s work, like the security guard yesterday.
“That security guard went out yesterday and went to work to earn a living to support his family and he ended up in a situation where his digger was set on fire.
“So you’ll excuse my lack of tolerance for any discussion around, ‘Would a bit more engagement have assisted in this situation?’”
Fifteen people were brought before the courts last night and charged with public order offences.
Four more are due to appear today – with the Justice Minister Helen McEntee saying she expects to see further arrests today.
