Gardaí say they are investigating reports of a violent assault in Dublin that took place on Saturday afternoon, as a far-Left militant group said they would use “guns if necessary” to suppress the “free speech” of “fascists”.

Over the weekend, a video was posted to social media purporting to show a group of political activists from the controversial anti-immigration group Clann Éireann being physically assaulted, including with what appears to be a tire iron. In the background, an “Antifa”-themed song can be heard playing.

The account that posted the video, Anti-Imperialist Ireland (AIA), has taken credit for what they call the “ambush”, saying it took place “just off Clanbrassil St.” near “St. Patrick’s Park in the Liberties in Dublin”.

One picture shared shows a man huddled on the ground in the foetal position, and another showed the same individual sitting on the ground with blood pouring from his head.

“NAZIS WERE BEATEN OFF THE STREETS”

AIA is a far-left self-described “militant” group with 18,800 followers on social media platform X. The video was shared by other Antifa-affiliated accounts, such as Lasair Dhearg in Ireland (7,028 followers) and an Antifa Ultras (173,300 followers).

In a statement, AIA boasted that the “Clann Éireann neo-nazis” were “beaten off streets” and “battered” by Antifa militants and Republicans, and that they had their uniforms stolen.

“Several of the fascists were hospitalised, with all anti-fascists safe and sound,” they wrote.

“…Neo-nazis will never be able to organise openly in Dublin. Today’s direct action shows what is possible when Republicans work together in an organised and disciplined way.”

MILITANTS VOW TO USE “GUNS IF NECESSARY” TO SILENCE “FASCISTS”

They added that such ‘militant ambushes’ were the most effective way to deal with such situations, and that they would use “guns if necessary” to deprive “fascists” of free-speech.

“Learn your lesson. Militant anti-fascism will always win. Stay home,” they wrote.

“In the words of the great Socialist Republican and Anti-Fascist, Frank Ryan, ‘While we have fists, hands and boots to use, and guns if necessary, there will be no free speech for traitors!’ No Pasáran.”

GARDAÍ INVESTIGATING

Asked about the materials being shared online, a Garda spokesperson confirmed that while they did not comment on “third party materials”, they were investigating a “public order incident” in the area at that time.

“Gardaí received report of a public order incident involving a group of individuals that occurred yesterday afternoon, Saturday 13th August 2025, in the Dublin 8 area,” the spokesperson told Gript.

“Upon arrival of Gardaí at the scene, those involved had dispersed. Investigations into this matter are ongoing.”

CLANN ÉIREANN RESPONDS

Clann Éireann, an offshoot of the National Party led by far-right campaigner Justin Barrett, said members were attacked after an event in Dublin on September 13th.

In a post on social media, Barrett’s wife Rebecca said masked individuals targeted her car, in which she was travelling with their two children, as members left the gathering.

She said two members of the group were seriously injured and taken to hospital, dubbing the attack “terrorism”.

Previously in 2022, an Ard Fheis meeting of the National Party at the Lough Erne Hotel in Co. Fermanagh was attacked by about 30 to 40 far-left militants armed with hammers, with some attendees being hospitalised in that case as well.

FAR-LEFT POLITICAL VIOLENCE

Notably, according to Europol’s annual terrorism report, between 2012 and 2023, 78.2% of all terrorism arrests in Ireland pertained to Dissident Republicans, who it identifies as far-left.

“Dissident Republican groups aim to reunite Ireland with Northern Ireland and create a 32-county socialist republic in Ireland…” Europol’s ‘European Union Terrorism Situation and Trend Report 2023’ reads.

“The Dissident Republican groups continue to have associations with left-wing extremists and have travelled to take part in socialist / Marxist events across the EU, including Spain and Greece.”

The incident comes amid fresh fears of rising political violence across the West, after conservative college debater Charlie Kirk of Turning Point USA was fatally shot in the throat on-stage at an event last week by a far-left radical.