{"id":97685,"date":"2025-10-22T19:47:16","date_gmt":"2025-10-22T19:47:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/97685\/"},"modified":"2025-10-22T19:47:16","modified_gmt":"2025-10-22T19:47:16","slug":"garda-chief-condemns-mob-intent-on-violence-after-citywest-protest-turns-to-chaos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/97685\/","title":{"rendered":"Garda chief condemns \u2018mob intent on violence\u2019 after Citywest protest turns to chaos"},"content":{"rendered":"

Five men have been charged with public order offences following violent clashes outside a Dublin hotel housing asylum seekers.<\/p>\n

The men, two of whom are aged in their 50s and three in their 40s, appeared before the Criminal Courts of Justice on Wednesday morning.<\/p>\n

Another man, aged in his 30s, has been arrested this afternoon for an alleged offence of Violent Disorder contrary to section 15 Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994.<\/p>\n

He has been detained under section 4 Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a Garda Station in the Dublin Region.<\/p>\n

A woman in her 50s who was detained has since been released without charge pending a file being prepared for Ireland\u2019s Director of Public Prosecutions.<\/p>\n

A garda van was set on fire, and bricks and fireworks were thrown at garda\u00ed policing the demonstration. Bins filled with bottles were also emptied and used as missiles.<\/p>\n

Approximately 1,000 protesters gathered outside the hotel \u2014 used by the State to accommodate international protection applicants \u2014 from early evening.<\/p>\n

\"GardaiGardai officers block protesters in Saggart, as disturbances have flared outside Citywest Hotel which used to house asylum seekers. Picture date: Tuesday October 21, 2025.<\/p>\n

The protest followed an alleged sexual assault on nearby Garter Lane in Saggart on Monday.<\/p>\n

A garda spokesperson said operational activity at the scene is still ongoing, with a full policing and security operation in place.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“An investigation is being led from an incident room at Clondalkin Garda Station. Two scenes remain preserved for forensic and technical examination,” the spokesperson said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The protest on Tuesday night saw a large number of garda\u00ed in public order gear deployed near the hotel and forming a barrier to stop protesters from entering the premises.<\/p>\n

Garda\u00ed later used pepper spray after attempts were made to break through the cordons, including charging the line with horse-drawn sulkies.<\/p>\n

Individuals were found carrying garden tools and metal implements, and some damaged nearby walls to create projectiles.<\/p>\n

The garda helicopter was targeted with lasers, and one female garda member required medical treatment for a foot injury. She has since been discharged from the hospital.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Garda\u00ed confirmed that six people were arrested, mainly for public order offences.<\/p>\n

\"ProtestersProtesters in Saggart, as disturbances have flared outside Citywest Hotel which used to house asylum seekers. Picture date: Tuesday October 21, 2025.<\/p>\n

Far-right and anti-immigration groups had promoted the protest on social media earlier in the day.<\/p>\n

Footage posted online showed several hundred protesters, many waving Irish flags and chanting anti-immigration slogans.<\/p>\n

In a statement on Tuesday night, garda\u00ed said the protest was not peaceful, describing the violence as \u201cthuggery and an attempt to intimidate and injure.\u201d<\/p>\n

“An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na had a policing operation in place for this public gathering organised by disparate groups on social media, who stir up hatred and violence and encourage and entice others to get involved,” the spokesperson said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Throughout the evening, nearly 300 Garda members were on duty, including 125 uniformed officers, 150 public order members, and units with water cannon, mounted and dog patrols, and air support.<\/p>\n

An investigation has begun, and a Senior Investigating Officer has been appointed.<\/p>\n

The Luas Red Line services between Belgard and Saggart were suspended ahead of the protest. Later, the glass at the Luas stop at Saggart was smashed.<\/p>\n

\u2018This was a mob intent on violence\u2019 \u2013 Garda Commissioner<\/p>\n

In a statement, Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly said: “An Garda Siochana facilitate peaceful protest on a daily basis. This was obviously not a peaceful protest. The actions this evening can only be described as thuggery. This was a mob intent on violence against Garda\u00ed.<\/p>\n

“I utterly condemn the attacks on Garda\u00ed who did their jobs professionally and with great courage to keep people safe. Public order units, dog unit, mounted unit, air support and the water cannon were deployed along with front-line colleagues, which brought the situation to a conclusion.<\/p>\n

“We will now begin the process of identifying those who committed crimes and we will bring those involved in this violence to justice.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"GardaGarda Commissioner Justin Kelly visits the scene, near the Citywest Hotel, where disturbances have flared outside the Dublin hotel which used to house asylum seekers. Picture date: Niall Carson\/PA Wire<\/p>\n

Acting Deputy Garda Commissioner Paul Cleary said they would be \u201crelentless in our pursuit of those involved\u201d in the disorder, which he said had been orchestrated online.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know that even though people may have been wearing hoods or masks, we still have the ability to identify them and bring them before the courts, and we will pursue that relentlessly,\u201d he told RT\u00c9\u2019s Morning Ireland.<\/p>\n

He said Tuesday night\u2019s protest included a mix of some peaceful protesters, youths on horses and scramblers and \u201cviolent thugs who were there purely to incite violence and promote fear\u201d.<\/p>\n

Mr Cleary said that such incidents are \u201cvery dynamic and dangerous\u201d, and while garda\u00ed are prepared, \u201cyou can never prepare for everything\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fact that we were able to bring the incident under control within approximately two and a half hours \u2026 I think one of the main objectives was to prevent spread and we did that.\u201d He said of the Garda van that was burnt out: \u201cWhen you have control it doesn\u2019t mean you have zero damage.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat we witnessed last night went far beyond protest. It was a violent riot driven by thugs intent on violence, and it wasn\u2019t just an attack on garda\u00ed, it was an attack on community safety, and we won\u2019t tolerate that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Taoiseach praises Garda response\u00a0<\/p>\n

Taoiseach Miche\u00e1l Martin echoed the Minister\u2019s remarks, paying tribute to the front-line Garda\u00ed who he said \u201cacted courageously and quickly to restore order.\u201d<\/p>\n

“The Minister for Justice and Garda Commissioner have briefed me on the operation, and I thank everyone for their work,” he said.<\/p>\n

“An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na protect us all and has a proud tradition of service to the Irish people.<\/p>\n

“There can be no justification for the vile abuse against them, or the attempted assaults and attacks on members of the force that will shock all right-thinking people.”<\/p>\n

\"GardaiGardai at the scene, near the Citywest Hotel, where disturbances have flared outside the Dublin hotel which used to house asylum seekers. Picture: Niall Carson\/PA Wire<\/p>\n

T\u00e1naiste Simon Harris said there was \u201cno excuse\u201d for the violent \u201cthuggery\u201d witnessed outside the hotel.<\/p>\n

\u201cI condemn the violent attacks on members of An Garda Siochana outside Citywest last night,\u201d said the Tanaiste.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is understandable shock and horror right across our country over the alleged incident that is now before the courts. The full facts must and will be established as people rightly expect.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut there is no excuse for this type of violence and thuggery against the men and women who serve to protect us and victims of crime every day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Justice Minister says attacks on garda\u00ed ‘will not be tolerated’<\/p>\n

Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan condemned the disorder, saying: “People threw missiles at garda\u00ed, threw fireworks at them, and set a Garda vehicle on fire. This is unacceptable and will result in a forceful response from the gardai. Those involved will be brought to justice.”<\/p>\n

Referencing the alleged sexual assault on Monday, he said: “As has been made clear during the day, a man has been arrested and charged before the courts in relation to the alleged incident.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“While I am not in a position to comment any further on this criminal investigation, I have been advised that there is no ongoing threat to public safety in the area.”<\/p>\n

\"DamageDamage to the entrance of the Citywest Hotel, where disturbances have flared outside the Dublin hotel which used to house asylum seekers. Picture: Niall Carson\/PA Wire<\/p>\n

Mr O’Callaghan added that the \u201cweaponising of a crime by people who wish to sow dissent in our society is not unexpected.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said attacks on Garda\u00ed and property \u201cwill not make anyone feel safe\u201d and stressed that such actions \u201cwill not be tolerated.\u201d<\/p>\n

“It is clear to me from talking to colleagues during the day and this evening that this violence does not reflect the people of Saggart. They are not the people participating in this criminality, but rather the people sitting at home in fear of it.”<\/p>\n

He added: “Peaceful protest is a cornerstone of our democracy. Violence is not. There is no excuse for the scenes we have witnessed tonight.”<\/p>\n

\n \u00a0– additional reporting from PA\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Five men have been charged with public order offences following violent clashes outside a Dublin hotel housing asylum…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":97686,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[5658,7782,61,1629,60,43],"class_list":["post-97685","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-ireland","tag-irish-examiner-instagram","tag-gardai","tag-ie","tag-immigration","tag-ireland","tag-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97685","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=97685"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97685\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/97686"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=97685"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=97685"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=97685"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}