Immigration protesters meet match on march
Garda arrest 11 people during city centre demonstations
GARDAI arrested 11 people as the riot squad and officers on horseback separated an anti-immigration demo and a counter-protest yesterday.
Around 1,000 people attended the event which began at the Garden of Remembrance in central Dublin and travelled down O’connell Street to the Customs House.
Some protesters carried Irish flags, as well as signs and banners with slogans such as “Ireland is full” and “Irish Lives Matter”.
Meanwhile, several hundred people attended a pro-refugee rally which was addressed by People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd-barrett. A large Garda presence in the city centre, including officers on horseback, acted as a line between both protests as they passed each other.
Later, officers moved in as a small group on Custom House Quay attempted to cause further traffic disruption,
Gardai confirmed there were 11 arrests although there was no major disorder apart from some interruption to public transport routes.
Among those who attended the prorefugee rally was Game Of Thrones actor Liam Cunningham, who has worked with a number of refugee charities.
He said: “I am down here supporting migrants and refugees.
“I’ve seen what refugees need... I’ve been a migrant.” Referring to the anti-immigration protest, he said: “They are unfortunately blaming a government-sponsored housing crisis on migrants and refugees.
“There is a shortage of housing. There are also over 150,000 vacant homes in this country that aren’t being used.”
A Garda spokesman said they had mounted a “proportionate operation” with more than 300 cops.
As well as the public order and mounted units, the dog unit, air support unit and plain clothes detectives were out in force. Strategic Commander Chief Superintendent
Actor
Liam Cunningham
Patrick Mcmenamin said: “Garda had to police a challenging environment with a number of public gatherings organised and attended by persons with divergent and opposing views whilst also managing the rights of citizens to enjoy the amenity that is Dublin city centre.
“Despite that, the events passed off primarily peacefully.
“I want to thank the business community and public transport companies in Dublin city centre for their support throughout the afternoon.”