A Clare TD says it’s wrong to conflate those with legitimate concerns about immigration with scenes witnessed in Dublin City last night.
34 people have been arrested in connection with Violent Disorder and Public Order events, which followed a stabbing incident at a Dublin school earlier in the day.
Over 400 members of An Garda Síochána were deployed on patrol in Dublin City Centre last night, including frontline uniformed Gardaí, supported by over 250 Public Order Gardaí.
During the course of the events, seven vehicles were damaged by fire including three buses, three Garda patrol cars and one Luas tram, while eight other Garda vehicles were extensively damaged.
Thirteen properties were attacked and substantially damaged, while a number of Gardaí were injured; one seriously, and that person is currently receiving treatment in hospital.
A formal investigation is now underway into the circumstances behind the Violent Disorder and Public Order events.
Gardaí are in the process of collating and harvesting CCTV and social media images from the events in the capital yesterday and an incident room has been established at Store Street Garda Station.
Thirty-four people have been arrested, primarily for Public Order and Theft offences, with 32 charged before the Criminal Courts of Justice this morning.
The Taoiseach’s says the Government will use the full resources of the law, and machinery of the state, to punish those involved in the violence in Dublin last night.
The riots followed a stabbing incident in Parnell Square, and Leo Varadkar has given this update on the conditions of the victims.
The Garda Commissioner has blamed the unrest on a “lunatic, hooligan faction driven by far-right ideology”, though one Clare Independent TD believes most of those involved in last night’s riots were not politically motivated, but opportunistic.
Michael McNamara insists it’s wrong to conflate everyone who has concerns about immigration with scenes like last night, saying many people have legitimate concerns.
The Scariff Deputy claims that since the pandemic, large parts areas like inner city Dublin, and even Ennis, have been taken over by young gangs or people involved in antisocial behaviour, and he believes Gardaí have failed to tackle it.
Clare’s Fianna Fáil TD says we saw “the worst of human behaviour” last night and has commended the Garda response, though acknowledging that many communities close to Dublin are without Gardaí today due to members being drafted into the city.
Cathal Crowe, who’s in the capital today, believes immigration will be one of the major issues come the next General Election.
The Meelick Deputy says a debate needs to be had over whether the country can financially sustain the current structure of supports available to those seeking international protection here.
You can listen to the full interview below.
