Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan stated he believes lessons have been learned following the riot at Citywest in Dublin last month.
Disturbances erupted outside an accommodation centre for International Protection applicants during a protest attended by roughly 2,000 people, reports RTE.
The demonstration started after a man appeared in court charged with the alleged sexual assault of a girl two days prior.
Speaking on RTÉ’s News, Minister O’Callaghan praised the Gardaí’s response to the events.
“They (gardaí) did an excellent job. They deployed the public order unit, they had the helicopter, the horse unit, the dog unit, they used pepper spray when it was necessary,” he said, reports RTE.
“And I know that they deployed, but did not utilise, the water cannon. But I think it was a very effective and professional response from An Garda Síochána to what was a very challenging riot. The equipment that the gardaí had, the Public Order Unit had, is much better now than it was over a year ago. They were in a very strong position and I believe the gardaí are adequately equipped and prepared to deal with this unacceptable level of violence.”
Mr O’Callaghan added that Gardaí had “good intelligence” about what might happen if another protest takes place tonight.
“There’s always concerns when an event like this has happened, but the gardaí have good intelligence in terms of what people are planning,” he said, reports RTE.
“Anyone who’s thinking of going out there or to another place this evening to engage in violence should be aware that they’ll receive a very forceful response from An Garda Síochána and the criminal justice system,” reports RTE.
“They should stay away if their intention is to go out there to use violence.”
The Minister mentioned that Citywest currently houses about 1,200 Ukrainians and 460 international protection applicants.
He expressed sympathy for residents nearby who feel their worries have been ignored, reports RTE.
“I’m very sympathetic to their concerns,” he said, reports RTE.
“I also want to emphasise that the people who were committing violence last night, they were not the people in Saggart and surrounding areas who have legitimate concerns in respect of Citywest,” reports RTE.
“I know there are very many reasonable requests that they’re looking for in terms of increased garda presence, obviously that’s necessarily happening there at present, but I’m taking on board the concerns that they have.”
He further noted that according to Garda information, there has been no noticeable rise in crime near international protection accommodation centres.
Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly warned that another gathering is being promoted on social media for this evening and sent a “clear message” to people not to engage in violent behaviour, reports RTE.
He stressed there would be a “robust response” to any such violence.
Referring to the Dublin city centre riots from two years ago, he said, “young males influenced by online content are the ones that end up in prison.
“Wreckless decisions may affect the course of your future,” he added, reports RTE.
Commissioner Kelly also said last night’s protest was not peaceful and involved “violence with intent to damage Citywest and those within,” reports RTE.
He said he was “determined” that “further persons will be identified and brought before the courts.”
He praised the courage of Gardaí on duty last night, reports RTE.
Earlier, Taoiseach Micheál Martin commended Gardaí for their professionalism during the Citywest disturbances, highlighting that innocent people, especially children, were put at risk.
He told the Dáil that Gardaí come from the community and protect everyone, and it “beggars belief” that anyone would attack them and cause serious injury, reports RTE.
The Taoiseach said such violence must be “dealt with robustly.”
Minister O’Callaghan made it clear the Government stands “in total solidarity” with Gardaí, he added.
Mr Martin said violence of this nature is a persistent issue he has been raising with increasing urgency in recent months.
He stressed that as a society, Ireland must address attacks on people because of their ethnicity, colour, or creed, reports RTE.
The Taoiseach was responding to Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns, who blamed far-right groups, saying they intended to over-run the Citywest centre.
The Cork South-West deputy said these groups aim to cause chaos, sow division, and frighten vulnerable people.
The vulnerable individuals at the IPAS centre have every right to be here, she said, but many were terrified last night and are now living in fear, reports RTE.
Ms Cairns said after the 2023 Dublin riots, many children of colour avoided school out of fear of being targeted because of their skin colour.
She described it as “disgusting” that the alleged sexual assault on a child over the weekend was exploited and that other children were terrorised last night,
Ms Cairns also criticised Independent Ireland TD Michael Fitzmaurice for wrongly linking rising knife crime with the asylum system, calling on the Taoiseach to “show leadership” and counter these false claims, reports RTE.
In reply, the Taoiseach said the Dáil must listen to diverse views and respond with facts.
Meanwhile, the Vice President of the Garda Representative Association (GRA) expressed pride in the Gardaí and Public Order Unit’s efforts during the Citywest riot.
“I’m proud to have stood, besides the likes of these members last night, shoulder to shoulder with the men and women that were there who are only interested in providing the service that they sign up to do,” Garda Niall Hodgins said on RTÉ’s News at One, reports RTE.
“Mind you, not a nine to five service Monday to Friday, but these are the men and women who 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days of the year, turn up when asked.
“I, for one, am proud to represent them and will continue to represent them.”
Mr Hodgins added that he is satisfied that the changes recommended by the GRA are beginning to take effect.
“When faced with this nearly two years ago in Dublin in November 2023 and also subsequently the riots out on Coolock at the Crown Paints site, the GRA were quite vociferous about changes that needed to happen,” he said,
“We’re satisfied that changes are happening.
“Perhaps in the last seven weeks, we’re beginning to see the things that we pointed out being addressed, following on from engaging in all the reviews that were into those with two particular prior previous incidents,” reports RTE.
He said this is something Gardaí and GRA members can feel confident about.
“Our membership can only draw confidence from the fact that they’re aware there are more of these trained scene commanders to deal with this type of horrific and deeply disturbing public disorder that our members faced last night,” he said.
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