Dublin Police Arrest 23 Following Second Night of Unrest Over Immigration
DUBLIN,Ireland – Twenty-three people were arrested in Dublin,Ireland,following a second night of disturbances outside a hotel housing asylum seekers,Irish police announced Thursday. The arrests come after six people were taken into custody Tuesday following violent demonstrations against the government’s immigration policies.
Footage circulating on social media depicts protesters throwing missiles and fireworks at law enforcement. Two officers were hospitalized; one sustained a head injury from a bottle, and another suffered injuries to the arm and shoulder, according to police.
“The public disorder was predominantly carried out by young adult males and teenagers,” a statement from An Garda Siochana, the Irish police force, read.
Irish Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan praised the police response as “bravely” and “professionally” executed in the face of “thuggish violence.” He stated on X, formerly Twitter, “Many have been arrested and more will follow. They will be charged, named, and dealt with relentlessly by our criminal justice system.”
The protests began Monday outside the Citywest Hotel in Saggart, southwest Dublin, sparked by the arrest of a 26-year-old man in connection with the alleged sexual assault of a 10-year-old girl. Reports in local media indicate the man is a foreign national who had previously received a deportation order after an unsuccessful asylum application.
During a parliamentary session Tuesday, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald emphasized the need for public confidence in Ireland’s asylum system, stating, “Any question mark around a person overstaying in the State when a deportation order has been made is, again, deeply unnerving.”
While far-right political movements have not gained notable traction in Ireland compared to other European nations, public opinion regarding immigration has shifted in recent years as arrival numbers have increased. A 2023 Irish Times/ipsos B&A Snapshot opinion poll revealed that 59% of respondents favored a more restrictive immigration policy.
The current unrest follows anti-immigration riots in Dublin in 2023, which erupted after an Algerian-born naturalized Irish citizen injured three children and a school worker in a stabbing attack near a primary school.
