A woman is due in court this morning over public order offences at a planned asylum seeker accommodation centre in north Dublin.

The woman in her 50s was arrested yesterday as protesters gathered around Thornton Hall near Kilsallaghan.

There has been a significant Garda presence around the north county Dublin site as construction contractor move in to prepare it for international protection applicants.

It is understood the property, which was originally earmarked to be the site of a new prison, will host hundreds of people in tents and ‘military-style’ accommodation.

Anti-immigrant protest and blockade at Thornton Hall, 18-06-2024. Image: Mark Henderson / Alamy

The Irish Times reports that teams of Gardaí were deployed at different locations around the perimeter of the site yesterday.

Meanwhile, crowd control fencing and concrete structures have been erected at different points in a bid to avoid the violent scenes that emerged at the former Crown Paints factory in Coolock.

It is understood the Garda operation could remain in place for the coming days, depending on whether there are further protests against the plans.

Thornton Hall, north Dublin, where the Government has announced hundreds of asylum seekers will be accommodation. Image: Barry Whyte

In a statement, a Garda spokesperson said officers are continuing to maintain a presence and engage with those “gathered peacefully at the location”, while facilitating access to and from the site.

“Any Garda response in relation to evolving events is in keeping with a community policing model and graduated policing response taking into account relevant legislation and public safety,” they said.

In an unusual step, Gardaí have also moved to tackle “misinformation, disinformation and fake news” regarding their activity at the site – noting that officers have not been “involved in secretly moving international protection applicants onto this site”.

They have also clarified that there are currently no international protection applicants at the site.

The woman arrested yesterday is due before the Criminal Courts of Justice this morning.