Violence flares up at asylum centre

A PROTEST outside the Citywest Hotel descended into chaos after protestors set fire to a Garda van and hurled glass bottles at officers.

- BY PAUL HEALY, CIARA O'LOUGHLIN and GRAINNE NI AODHA

OPERATION Gardaí outside Citywest Hotel last night

The Garda Public Order Unit and officers from around Dublin were deployed to the area in Saggart last night after a rally was organised in the wake of the alleged sexual assault of a child at the premises on Monday. A man has been charged in connection with the incident.

However, the protest turned into a riot that saw officers deploying pepper spray in an effort to quell the violence.

Hundreds of protestors arrived outside the hotel, which was recently purchased by the Government to house asylum seekers at a cost of €145million.

Crowds were seen arriving en masse from 7.30pm with a small number arriving on horses and in balaclavas.

Officers carrying shields and batons were seen standing guard outside the front entrance of the hotel as protestors gathered on the street. Some of those present shot fireworks at gardai.

Alarming footage showed the fire first starting inside the Garda van after the windows had been smashed in.

A teenage boy was also seen trying to smash in the front window before someone could be heard telling them to “stand back, it's going to blow”.

Disturbing footage also emerged of protestors hurling glass bottles at the Public Order Unit, with some shouting “scumbags" and “get them out”.

Public Order Unit gardai at one stage shouted at the crowd to move back as they deployed pepper spray.

Several of those present live-streamed the gathering on social media, showing the scenes as they unfolded.

STANDOFF