Gript has learned that protesters from Newtownmountkennedy, County Wicklow have been issued with court summons for alleged offences such as “loitering”.
The summonses Gript has seen relate to the 25th of April last which was the date of clashes between protestors at the site of a then proposed asylum centre and members of the Garda Public Order Unit, POU.
Round the clock protests, which locals say were peaceful, protests were held outside the site, River Lodge, Trudder, Newtownmountkennedy for weeks after locals learned of Department of Integration plans to house single male international protection applicants at the disused HSE building.
Locals expressed fear at the housing of the men telling Gript that not only was there “a lack of information” from authorities, but “active deceit”.
About six weeks into the sustained presence outside the site, tensions began to rise after the POU were deployed to disperse protestors in order for works to continue on the site in spite of the ongoing local opposition and unanswered questions as to the ownership of River Lodge.
Protesters clashed with Gardaí at site of IPAS development in Newtownmountkennedy
On the 25th of April, members of the POU clashed with protestors resulting in five arrests.
Four people, three men and one woman, were charged with offenses contrary to the Public Order Act, while the fifth person arrested, a minor, was released.