15 charged after day of anti-immigrant violence in Coolock

Fifteen people were charged after a special sitting at the Criminal Courts of Justice last night, following a day of anti-immigrant violence in Coolock.

The 15 were charged with public order offences, including failure to comply with the orders of a Garda and with threatening or abusive behaviour.

A public order incident was declared as protesters set fires outside and caused disruption outside a centre designated as accommodation for international protection.

Disorder broke at the site of the old Crown Paint site, which was confirmed by the Department of Integration as a location that will host refugees.

Numerous individuals associated with Ireland’s far-right, such as National Party councillor Patrick Quinlan, anti-immigration independent councillors Gavin Pepper and Malachy Steenson and Ireland First MEP candidate Derek Blighe tweeted that they were present at the scene, with the protests receiving the support of known British far-right activist Tommy Robinson on Twitter.

Bilghe was among those charged last night by Dublin District Court, and ordered to stay away from the site.

Taoiseach Simon Harris said the violence was “reprehensible.”

He said that “no person has a right to burn cars, damage property, or attack members of An Garda Síochána and emergency services”.

“These actions are criminal and are designed to sow fear and division.”

Local Sinn Féin councillor Mícheál Mac Donnchasaid said the violence in the area was an effort “to spread fear and hate” and that the “vast majority of decent people want nothing to do with it.”

He said that people who have concerns over the issue should raise it “peacefully and democratically.”

“Violence, intimidation and arson have no place in our communities,” he said.

“Everyone deserves respect, including men, women and children due to be accommodated at this site.”

Mac Donncha’s Sinn Féin colleague Daithí Doolan told RTÉ that an individual involved in the protests has “political pedigree” through past involvement with the far-right British National Party.

He said that the unnamed individual, who is known to authorities, is a convicted drug dealer and had previously boasted of “flooding Ireland with drugs.”