Coolock mayhem: Asylum seeker site now closed off by massive concrete barriers, more people due in court after day of violence

The site remains protected by gardai, and a clean-up operation in the area was due to commence this morning.

On the road and the central medians of the area at the junction of the Malahide Road and Greencastle Road, the evidence of the clashes between anti-immigration protestors and gardai were still plainly visible.

Broken bottles, rocks, stones, metal poles and other missiles littered the roadside and footpaths, as cyclists steered their way around the obstacles on the busy road while buses and cars crunched through the smashed glass.

A bent and mangled windscreen wiper, possibly torn from a vehicle during the rioting, could be seen on the path.

Pizza boxes and water bottles were also evident, and a garda van was parked at the entrance of the site earmarked for use as accommodation for international protection applicants.

Behind the massive concrete barriers at the entrance, the burned out remains of a digger that was set on fire yesterday morning could be seen. The site is now fully locked down.

It was unclear this morning when work will resume at the site which has been the focus of protests recently.

Meanwhile, four more people remained in garda custody this morning after 15 people were charged in court late last night with a range of public order offences arising from yesterday’s clashes.

Garda patrols will be maintained and bolstered in the Coolock area in the coming days, but the heat and tension of yesterday’s events was largely dissipated.

The 13 men and two women appeared before a special sitting of the Dublin District Court on Monday night after being arrested earlier in the day.

It followed clashes with gardaí after protesters gathered at the former Crown Paints factory on the Malahide Road, Coolock, where the State is set to house asylum seekers.

All accused were granted bail with conditions which include to stay away from the former Crown Paint’s factory and not to engage in any anti-social gatherings or protests.

One defendant was also granted bail on the condition that he doesn’t wear a balaclava in public.

They are all accused of engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour, and failure to comply with a garda’s instruction, under the Public Order Act 1994.

Ireland First candidate Philip Dwyer, who unsuccessfully ran in the local and European elections, was one of the defendants to appear in court on Monday night.

A solicitor for Mr Dwyer (56), with an address in Tallaght, said in response to the bail conditions that his client was a citizen journalist “as a hobby” and often reports on gatherings.

Judge Dermot Dempsey told the accused that he will have to “live with the consequences” if he breaches his bail.

The first person to appear before the court was Anthony Moody (34), with an address at Clonshaugh Walk in Priorswood.

He was granted bail under the same conditions as his co-accused, with an added condition that he does not wear a balaclava in public.

Also charged are; Colin Belton (28) of Belcamp Avenue in Priorswood; Joyce Bergin (42) of Cromcastle Park; Owen Burke (51) of Newtown Drive in Ayrfield; Stephen Burke (28) of Bunratty Road in Coolock and; Christopher Byrne (27) of Marigold Crescent in Darndale.

One accused, hairdresser Mia Kearney (28), is charged with a single public order offence of engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour, as well as dangerous driving.

Also charged are Josh Hanlon (23) of Marigold Court in Darndale; Martin Maughan (18) of Channel Grove Crescent in Coolock; Patrick Scanlon (38) of Marigold Crescent in Darndale; John Turner (40) of Ferrycarrig Park in Coolock; Andrew Vickery (30) of Moatesview Avenue; Dean Ward (29) of Cromcastle Crescent in Coolock and Paul Metcalfe (18) of Botanic Road in Dublin 9.

All accused are set to appear in court again in September after being granted bail on their own bond.

They are all accused of engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour, and failure to comply with a garda’s instruction, under the Public Order Act 1994.

It comes after a major disturbance erupted at a site designated to house asylum seekers in north Dublin.

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris described the scenes of disorder as “really unacceptable”.

He said: “This has been a difficult policing day for us in terms of dealing with serious public disorder centred on the Crown Paints factory.”

He added: “What we saw was really unacceptable.

“We have a number of people, 15, already charged and there will be more charges overnight.

“On top of that we have seen serious disorder throughout the day, attacks on gardaí, criminal damage and also offences of serious public disorder.

“All of those will be under investigation.

“Can I conclude by saying how well members of An Garda Síochána responded both in terms of the public order units who responded, but also the local personnel in terms of dealing with a very volatile and difficult situation.”

He said the investigation would look at anyone suspected of inciting serious public-order incidents or hatred via social media.

He said CCTV footage would now be analysed and body-worn cameras will be used for the first-time as part of this intelligence-gathering investigation.

He said: “We are going to have to look to see the range of offences committed today. There could be an element in regards to incitement.

“We have to gather evidence, see what people have said and what people have publicly said and obviously report that to the DPP.

“We have made arrests today, there are other individuals we are seeking and we will analyse both CCTV, and, for the first time in a public order situation some members were also wearing their bodycam.”

Mr Harris said no members of the public were injured and there were no serious injuries to garda officers.

Two garda vehicles had suffered significant damage but could be repaired.

The Garda Commissioner said the gates at Coolock garda station had been closed at various times as disorder spread.

He said: “I was in Coolock for part of the day.

“The station was operational and remained operational.

“But yes, at various parts of the day, given the scale of the disorder, the station gates were closed.

“That was a precautionary measure as we dealt with a very mobile group of individuals set upon disorder.”

Mr Harris said almost 200 gardaí were involved in dealing with the disorder and dismissed a suggestion that the violence had waged for 12 hours.

He said: “We had resources there from early in the day.

“As the day developed, we saw the damage to the digger and the arson attack on it and also other fires being set.

“We realised then we had a difficult day ahead.

“Members of the public were kept away from the area to make sure they were safe but also then so that we had sufficient space to mount the appropriate operation to deal with the policing of a public disorder situation.”

He added: “The public order unit responded. It was operational decisions in terms of deployment, assessing the situation and then making sure that our deployment was proportionate.

“We did call upon additional public order units to support the additional unit.

“We had almost 200 gardaí deployed, both public order and normal uniform personnel, and that was sufficient with the disorder that we faced.”

The Taoiseach has also condemned the widespread disorder in north Dublin as “reprehensible”.

In a statement, Simon Harris said his thoughts are with the family of a security guard, employed to protect the site earmarked for asylum seekers, after he was attacked and injured. He was brought to hospital for treatment.

A number of gardaí came under attack during clashes with protesters, which saw fireworks and missiles thrown, a garda car set alight and other vehicles damaged.

In a statement this evening, Simon Harris said: “The scenes we have witnessed in Coolock today are reprehensible.

“The Minister for Justice (Helen McEntee) has briefed me throughout the day and the law will be implemented.

“No person has a right to burn cars, damage property, or attack members of An Garda Síochána and emergency services. These actions are criminal and are designed to sow fear and division.

“We should not accept them being legitimised in any way by describing them as ‘protest’.

“I want to thank An Garda Síochána, who have come under attack today. They have shown extraordinary professionalism.

“A security guard was attacked for simply doing his job. He and his family are in my thoughts and I hope he makes a speedy recovery.”

Protesters launched fireworks and other projectiles at gardaí on duty with several Garda Public Order Units deployed and pepper spray used.

The Malahide Road reopened to traffic hours after it was closed due to the scenes of unrest.

Justice Minister Helen McEntee said: “I am appalled at the violent scenes in Coolock today. This is thuggish criminal behaviour and has no place in our society. The Garda Commissioner has kept me updated throughout the day and he has assured me that everything will be done to bring those responsible to justice.

“Public order units and regular Garda members have been out in force today. Fifteen people have been arrested and will be brought before the courts this evening.

“Arson and assaults are reprehensible and serious crimes. They will be fully investigated and those involved will be held to account for their actions.

“This is not protest. What we have seen today does not represent the decent communities of Coolock and surrounding areas”.