Garda Commissioner Calls Coolock Violence "Unacceptable"

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris called the violent anti-immigration scenes in Coolock on Monday “really unacceptable”.

Violent scenes erupted on Monday at a disused factory being set up as accommodation for asylum seekers in North Dublin.

Nineteen people were arrested at the scene and fifteen of those have been charged with a range of public order offences and have appeared in court, 13 men and two women.

Four more are expected in court today.

Mr Harris called it a “difficult policing day” as three garda cars were damaged, with one even being set on fire. During the disturbance, petrol bombs were thrown and mattresses and other objects were set alight.

Over 200 gardaí were on duty at the time. Commissioner Harris commended them for their quick response to the “very volatile and difficult situation”.

The Commissioner described the violence as intermittent throughout the day, starting up in the morning and again flaring up at around 6:30pm.  He claimed the gardai had the situation under control from mid-morning.

"Gardaí experienced hostility and abuse... I commend their fortitude."

"We had a spike, we knew there would be further disorder which we dealt with within an hour," he said. "Gardaí experienced hostility and abuse, there were efforts to assault them, personal attacks and objects thrown at them and I commend their fortitude."

"fear leads to protest which is misinformed."

Commissioner Harris said the violence was sparked by serious “misinformation and disinformation” on social media about asylum seekers entering the country. He added that the inaccurate commentary being spread across the internet was "all about creating fear, and fear leads to protest which is misinformed."

Mr Harris rejected the claim that the movement of construction equipment to the factory at night was surreptitious or covert, and said "people knew it would be used for accommodation,"

A criminal investigation into the incident is currently underway with more arrests expected to be made in the coming days.

"We should not accept them being legitimised in any way by describing them as 'protest',"

Taoiseach Simon Harris described the scenes as “reprehensible” and said the misinformation being spread online was deliberately designed “to sow fear and division,"

"We should not accept them being legitimised in any way by describing them as 'protest'," the Taoiseach added.