Tensions flared outside a Dublin hotel hosting asylum seekers for a second consecutive night, leaving two police officers injured and 23 people arrested. Protesters threw stones, fireworks, and bottles, with one officer struck on the head and another suffering an arm injury.
The unrest follows violent scenes on Tuesday, when a Garda vehicle was set on fire amid hours of chaos. The demonstration initially began as a peaceful response to an alleged sexual assault of a young girl early Monday, but quickly escalated into disorder.
While violence continued on Wednesday night, it was less widespread than the previous evening. Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly described the events as “anything but peaceful protest” and called them “totally unacceptable.”
“Peaceful protest does not involve throwing bricks and bottles, burning police vehicles or people arming themselves with weapons,” he added, warning that a “robust response again to any further disorder” would be enforced.
Authorities said Tuesday’s chaos was planned online, resulting in seven arrests that night. Wednesday saw an additional 23 arrests for public order offences, with five people already charged.
The Citywest Hotel houses families and children under Ireland’s international protection programme for asylum seekers.
Police maintained a heavy presence around the hotel, with large steel barriers and fencing delivered during the day. Hundreds of people gathered at different times, including onlookers and families with children, while stones, bottles, and fireworks were thrown at officers.
Two Garda officers were taken to hospital – one after being hit by a bottle, and another with a shoulder injury. Despite repeated attacks, officers held their positions and the crowds eventually dispersed.
In a statement, the police said cordoned officers “were subject to ongoing verbal abuse and subject to missiles (bottles, masonry) being thrown and fireworks discharged,” and noted that the disturbances were “predominantly carried out by young adult males and teenagers.”
Garda Ch Supt Michael McNulty, scene commander, said the unrest had been orchestrated by “disparate groups on social media, who stir up hatred and violence.”
Tuesday’s protest had drawn around 2,000 participants. While many attendees were peaceful, gardaí said some youths arrived on horse-drawn carts and scramblers, alongside “violent thugs who were there purely to incite violence and promote fear.” Protesters attempted to breach police lines, a helicopter was targeted with lasers, and a Garda vehicle was set alight. Approximately 300 officers, half from the public order unit, were deployed. A female officer was treated for a foot injury and discharged.
Kevin Shortall, principal at St Aiden’s Community School in Brookfield, which some Citywest pupils attend, called the situation “tragic” and said the anger was “misdirected.” Most students stayed home Wednesday following warnings that trouble might arise.
“There is a real misconception about the people housed in the hotel,” Shortall said. “It’s a community of families, it's people living in difficult enough circumstances who have come from difficult circumstances and they're trying to get by.” He highlighted a recent Ukrainian student arriving after fleeing bombing, now facing firebombs outside the hotel.
Shortall described the hotel as “a happy, safe, integrated, inclusive place,” noting that the disorder added “a very awful nasty dimension to the national narrative and particularly to the students who come here who feel targeted and hated.”
He urged, “We need to get away very quickly from this narrative that a certain type of person is to blame for our ills, usually determined by the country they come from or the colour of their skin.”
