Six people have been arrested after a protest outside a Dublin hotel housing asylum seekers turned violent on Tuesday night. The Garda Síochána reported that officers faced “sustained violence” as crowds hurled fireworks, bricks, and glass bottles, and set a police vehicle on fire.
The protest, which drew up to 2,000 people according to RTÉ, followed an alleged sexual assault on a 10-year-old girl. A 26-year-old asylum seeker has been charged in connection with the incident, which reportedly occurred at or near the Citywest hotel in south-west Dublin.
Police Commissioner Justin Kelly condemned the actions as “thuggery”, stating: “This was a mob intent on violence against gardai.” Officers with riot shields, helmets, and horses pushed the crowd back, leading to six arrests.
Justice and Migration Minister Jim O’Callaghan described the disturbances as “unacceptable” and warned of a “forceful response” from police. Taoiseach Micheál Martin also condemned the “violent disorder” and “vile abuse” directed at officers.
The protest is the latest in a series of demonstrations against immigration in Ireland, with far-right agitators using social media to spread anti-immigrant sentiment. Similar unrest occurred in Dublin in November 2023 and in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, in June.
Earlier on Tuesday, Ireland’s child and family agency Tusla confirmed that the alleged victim had been in state care and had “absconded” during a trip to the city centre. Martin acknowledged public anger over the incident, admitting a “failure” in the state’s duty to protect the child.
