Concerned Irish citizens say they’re planning further protests around the country to highlight genuine and legitimate concerns they have about their area and migrants being placed there.
Clashes broke out between anti-immigration protesters and Gardaí after protesters marched towards the International Protection Office on Moat Street in Dublin city centre.
Since March more tents have been put up in front of the office and in the surrounding streets.
The protesters shouted at asylum seekers, telling them they were not welcome. There was also a confrontation with guards when some people went after men who were protesting against them, reports RTE.
A number of Gardaí units, including a public order unit, were on the scene. There were no arrests.
“All persons present later dispersed from the scene. At this time, no further incidents have been reported in the area,” An Garda Síochána said in a statement, reports RTE.
The sightings follow a protest a few blocks away last night at another location where asylum seekers set up camp, which the Taoiseach condemned “unreservedly”.
A man in his 30s was arrested last night for a minor public order offence, and has since been charged to appear before Dublin District Court later this month.
Children’s Department. Equality, Disability, Inclusion and Youth Affairs said officers are working with gardaí on the incident.
They said the camp had been the subject of anti-immigrant protests in recent days.
Last week there were 582 asylum seekers without recent government housing.
The government stopped providing shelters to elderly asylum seekers without children on January 24, citing a nationwide shortage, the Dept said, reports RTE.
In a statement, the Dept said that work was underway to secure more shelters and that they “hopes to deliver significant capacity in the coming weeks to alleviate the shortages being experienced presently”, reports RTE.
The Irish Refugee Council described last night’s events as horrific and deeply worrying.
It said to have worked with almost 400 asylum seekers who were homeless after they arrived in Ireland.
As a result of the homelessness, people have been robbed and assaulted and suffered from worsening health problems, but last night was the low point, the agency said.
This shows the real urgency with which the whole government must act to support people in this situation.
A group calling themselves the Revolutionary Housing League said they had found alternative housing for those held at the camp.
The group said: “A safe location which is a long-vacant building with heating, electricity, water and furnishing, providing what the State refused to,” reports RTE.
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