GARDAI HUNT COVID THUGS
23 held after gardaí attacked with f ireworks Four off icers injured in riot on streets of capital Anti-lockdown thugs ‘attacked whole of society’
THE streets of Dublin descended into chaos and disorder yesterday as a mix of anti-vaccine, anti-lockdown and far right thugs attacked frontline gardaí policing an illegal protest.
The Garda Commissioner and Justice Minister promised there would be a swift response as 23 people were arrested following the injuring of four gardaí – one of whom was hospitalised.
Scenes that were captured and shared on social media show an individual fire two fireworks directly into the faces of gardaí – which prompted the protest to descend into a riot which was denounced across the political
spectrum. The footage shows tension building between gardaí and protesters outside St Stephen’s Green where barricades lined the streets to block the protesters from marching further.
Gardaí used batons as they pushed protesters down Grafton Street, while fireworks, cans and bollards were thrown at officers.
One edited video only showed a baton charge by gardaí – but not the apparently planned assault that led to the policing response – leading to suggestions of attempts by online groups to capitalise on the footage for their own ends.
Far-right groups, people brandishing anti-vaccination slogans and anti-lockdown supporters were among the hundreds who attended the protest which led the gardaí and the OPW to shut down a large section of the capital’s city centre yesterday afternoon in an attempt to prevent disorder.
One garda was hospitalised and three others sustained injuries. It’s understood 23 people were arrested in connection with the clashes and a special court sitting was due to be held last night.
RTÉ reported last night that 12 men and one woman had been brought before Dublin District Court, charged in connection with protests. All were granted bail.
Gardaí took the names of anybody who attended the protest – which, in itself, was a breach of Covid-19 restrictions.
The daily Covid-19 figures released last night showed 13 further deaths and 738 new cases of the disease confirmed to the Department of Health.
After several arrests were made, the crowd moved down O’Connell Street to the Garden of Remembrance before returning to the GPO.
Before the 2pm protest, the Office of Public Works announced it was closing St Stephen’s Green park on foot of recommendations from An Garda Síochána.
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris told a briefing last evening that ‘regrettably’ there were those who arrived ‘intent on violence’. He said: ‘We will follow through with an operation to bring the perpetrators to justice. The operation has not finished as we pursue individuals who’ve engaged in protest and illegal activity today.’
He said that taking part in a protest was not ‘reasonable grounds’ for essential travel.
Referring to those involved in the protest, Commissioner Harris said: ‘There’s a collaboration of groups. Those who are anti-lockdown, anti-vaccine and anti-facemask types, but also then we saw elements of both the far-left and far-right engaged in this as well, but no one group that we saw today was just one set of individuals. This was groups working in concert with each other.’
Speaking on RTÉ’s Six One News, Justice Minister Helen McEntee said: ‘What happened today was an absolute insult to every single person who has adhered to guidelines over the past year and has put their life and their livelihoods on hold. It was an insult to our frontline workers and an insult to the thousands of gardaí who have gone in day in and day out to work with us and to keep us safe.’
On Twitter, Ms McEntee also said: ‘I know there have been a number of arrests already and a special court sitting is being arranged to make sure these law-breakers are prosecuted speedily. I understand fixed charge notices have also been issued to a number of people.’
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said: ‘The large gathering, in the face of ongoing Covid-19 restrictions, showed a complete lack of respect to the people who have made huge sacrifices during this pandemic. There can be no justification for the march or the violence that unfolded, and I pay tribute to members of An Garda Síochána who moved quickly to make arrests and restore order.’
On Twitter, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar expressed horror at the protesters’ actions: ‘Horrified to see this on our streets. Irish people have spent last year fighting Covid. There is no excuse for violence to gardaí or anyone. This behaviour by a selfish few undermines sacrifices that millions have made in the last 12 months.’
Speaking to the Irish Mail on Sunday yesterday Mr Varadkar added: ‘Freedom of speech is a human right and peaceful protest is part of that. This is not freedom of speech. It was a riot. There is no justification for using violence against the gardaí or anyone.’
Green Party Deputy Leader Catherine Martin said: ‘Disturbing scenes in Dublin City today. Gardaí are there to protect people and uphold the law. At this time, during this major unprecedented health crisis, we need unity and no repeat of these worrying events today,’
Garda Representative Association President Frank Thornton said: ‘I condemn the acts of aggression directed towards gardaí in Dublin today. Our members were endangered and the whole of society was attacked by people who had no regard for laws created to protect the lives of citizens.’
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said: ‘Awful, appalling scenes in Dublin City Centre today. Millions here have spent the past year showing huge solidarity and fighting Covid. Our healthcare workers are exhausted. The measures we have in place are there to protect public health and keep us all safe. Thanks to gardaí.’
Fine Gael Higher Education Minister Simon Harris said: ‘This was pure thuggery at large on the streets of Dublin today. It was not a protest. It was an attack on our all-out national effort. The disgraceful abuse directed at the gardaí is sickening and shameful.’
Fianna Fáil minister Niall Collins said the organisers were ‘dangerous ideologues and conspiracy theorists attempting to prey upon the anxieties of the vulnerable’.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said: ‘The protest in Dublin is reckless and is a slap in the face to the people of this city and beyond who have made huge sacrifices over the last year. Shocking and disgraceful scenes.’
Labour leader Alan Kelly said the actions were ‘absolutely disgraceful, dangerous and morally reprehensible’.
‘Slap in the face to people of this city’