Over 30 arrests following night of violence in Dublin

Over 30 people have been arrested following a night of violence and disorder in Dublin.

Thursday afternoon’s stabbing on Parnell Square was proceeded by a riot, where shops were looted in Dublin City Centre, and three buses and a Luas were burned.

The stabbing has left a young girl in a serious condition in hospital.

Thirteen shops were damaged during the violence, and 11 garda vehicles were destroyed or damaged.

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said the rioting started after a crowd attempted to disrupt the crime scene on Parnell around 5.30 pm, with the violence escalating after that.

Order was restored to the city centre shortly before 9 pm, but with major traffic disruptions affecting Dublin this morning as a result.

At a press conference this morning, the Commissioner said that gardai “stepped up to the plate” and public order units from across the country were deployed.

He claimed that gardaí “could not have foreseen” the level of violence that took place last night.

Over 400 gardaí were deployed during the disorder.

When asked if gardaí were taking the threats of the far-right seriously, Harris said that the crowd that had gathered at the crime scene were “filled with hate” and were then supplemented by crowds “only interested in looting and disorder.”

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said the scenes “cannot and will not be tolerated.”

“A thuggish and manipulative element must not be allowed to use an appalling tragedy to wreak havoc,” she said, and said “we will not tolerate a small minority using an appalling incident to spread division.”

Fianna Fáil Senator Mary Fitzpatrick said that social media companies that “facilitated incitement to violence” must be held accountable.

 “The power of these platforms to influence and promote public discord cannot be ignored.  It is imperative that the platform operators take responsibility for their role in the events that transpired,” she said.

Labour leader Ivana Bacik said “fringe elements in Ireland have sought to turn a tragedy into an opportunity. They have fomented violence that has destroyed public property, injured gardai and made thousands of residents of this city fearful.”