Local councillors, who were asking that the situation be de-escalated, are amongst those who have reportedly been pepper-sprayed by Gardaí as tension spilled into disorder in Coolock after attempts to force through a large asylum centre was met with protests by locals.
The conflict in Coolock, one local person told Gript’s reporter Fatima Gunning earlier today, kicked off in the early hours of the morning when Gardaí arrived at a protest encampment at the former Crown paints site earmarked as an asylum centre to hold hundreds of people.
A JCB digger, which was being used to dismantle the protest camp, was set on fire, setting the scene for hours of protest and chaos in the area as Gardaí and protesters repeatedly clashed: with pepper spray being used against the Coolock Says No group who gathered in their hundreds, while Gardaí said missiles had been thrown at members of the force as tensions grew.
Tense scenes at the Coolock Says No Camp this morning with Gardai and protestors clashing pic.twitter.com/9Q7Q4VdiJ8
— Robbie Kane (@robbiekane74) July 15, 2024
As the situation escalated, local Councillor, Gavin Pepper, shared a video of public order units arriving on the scene. At the same time, the crowd continued to grow.
More public order arrive in coolock pic.twitter.com/PDSU5LV3Qh
— Cllr Gavin Pepper (@gavpepper85) July 15, 2024
This evening, the same local representative, along with other councillors, were reportedly pepper-sprayed according to a post on Twitter by newly-elected councillor Glen Moore who said that Cllr Malachy Steenson had also been sprayed.
I said “it’s wrong, what you just did” after spraying people trying to move
— Cllr. Glen Moore (@moorsey100) July 15, 2024
Was told to “fuck off and get lost”
Then they sprayed me
They already sprayed myself @MalachySteenson @gavpepper85 before this for trying to deescalate the situation.
#CoolocksaysNo pic.twitter.com/yU0sFE8mNF
Throughout the day, some of those observing condemned what they felt were heavy-handed tactics by the Gardaí, who were present in very large numbers at the site throughout the day, with.
Garda extremely heavy-handed on teenager! #coolock #irelandisfull pic.twitter.com/gJ3Q2RMj0a
— Keitho☘️ (@HibernoToronto) July 15, 2024
Where is @sinnfeinireland to condemn this attack on an innocent person. @HMcEntee needs to go.
— Toby 🇮🇪 (@ThoughtsToby) July 15, 2024
pic.twitter.com/GP8bMXb4vX
Barrister Úna McGurk, who was previously a barrister with the International Protection Appeals Tribunal said the scenes were “shocking and unimaginable”, and that the “breakdown in social cohesion” warned about in a leaked document was now being witnessed.
“Shocking and unacceptable scenes at Coolock,” she wrote on X. “Once again Minister Roderick O Gorman flagrantly disregarding the States legal obligations under S.I 230 of 2018 designating IPAS centres without carrying out risk assessments regarding public order and public interest requirements.”
“We are witnessing first hand the breakdown of social cohesion which the Government were warned about in a leaked cabinet document from 2022 . It is time we had new Leaders in Ireland who always put the good of their own people first.”
Shocking and unnaceptable scenes at Coolock.Once again Minister Roderick O Gorman flagrantly disregarding the States legal obligations under S.I 230 of 2018 designating IPAS centres without carrying out risk assessments regarding public order and public interest requirements.We… pic.twitter.com/sXdNlP8zfJ
— Una McGurk (@Una_McGurk) July 15, 2024
Others questioned the wisdom of locating the proposed asylum centre in “one of the most deprived areas in Dublin. Business owner, Nick Delahanty said that the government’s plan was “beyond negligence”.
Deprivation Map of Dublin
— Nick Delehanty (@Nick_Delehanty) July 15, 2024
Coolock & Darndale are literally the most deprived areas in Dublin,
officially classed as "extremely disadvantaged".
The Govt.'s plan to impose asylum centres here is beyond negligence.
Whose idea was this?
Everybody loses:
the locals,
the… pic.twitter.com/47neqtWsws
However, as the scene later descended into chaos, there was condemnation of rioting as 15 people were arrested by Gardaí.
My video from rioting on the Malahide Road,Coolock in Dublin shows one male getting peppered sprayed by a member of the Public Order Unit this evening.. pic.twitter.com/mnvyhrNRiW
— Padraig O'Reilly Photographer (@padraig_reilly) July 15, 2024
A spokesman for the Department of Integration said that: “protests at the entrance to this site have delayed work beginning on this site for several months” and also added that the “department condemns all acts of criminality and intimidation of providers and their employees”.
Another local Councillor, John Lyons said that “the shocking arson attacks witnessed today at the Crown Paint site in Coolock were violent, dangerous, reckless & reveal to me that the small number of people responsible for these actions don’t care about the local community in any way, shape or form.”
The shocking arson attacks witnessed today at the Crown Paint site in Coolock were violent, dangerous, reckless & reveal to me that the small number of people responsible for these actions don't care about the local community in any way, shape or form.https://t.co/MpX7wwUoNm pic.twitter.com/5J8c940Suk
— Cllr John Lyons 🇮🇪 🇵🇸 🇺🇦 🇮🇪 (@CllrJohnLyons) July 15, 2024