A burned out Luas on O’Connell Street in Dublin, in the aftermath of violent scenes in the city centre on Thursday evening. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire
Over 30 people appeared in court on Friday at Dublin District Court on a range of public order and theft charges in relation to the Dublin city centre disturbances on Thursday evening.
The 28 men and four women appeared before three different courts at the Criminal Courts of Justice on Friday, charged with a range of public order and theft offences.
At least three men faced charges under the Misuse of Drugs Act. The items allegedly stolen included clothing, cigarettes, a bottle of vodka and cash.
As well as addresses in the city, the accused had listed addresses in other areas such as Celbridge in Co Kildare, Ballybrack, Tallaght and Swords. They were aged in their 20s, 30s and 40s.
It comes as the clean-up in Dublin city centre continues, businesses count the cost of damages and gardaí put measures in place in anticipation of further incidents.
Thursday’s riots ensued after a knife attack which left three young children and a woman injured.
A five-year-old girl remains in a critical condition in CHI Temple Street while a woman, 30s, was also seriously injured.
Another girl, six, continues to receive medical treatment for less serious injuries in CHI Crumlin. A five-year-old boy was discharged from CHI Crumlin on Thursday evening.
This evening, politicians, staff and journalists at Leinster House were advised to leave as a “precautionary measure”.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) confirmed that they have dispatched two water cannons in response to a Mutual Aid request from An Garda Síochána.
The Garda response to Thursday night’s events has come under criticism with Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald expressing no confidence in the Garda Commissioner and the Justice Minister.
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris denied that he had “failed the country” by what appeared to be delays in responding to the mob, who organised the riots online, he replied: “No”.
“An Garda Síochána responded to this entirely in an extraordinary fashion,” he said. “Members from around the country, returned to duty, public order all over Ireland responded here to Dublin.
“More and more resources were arriving throughout the evening but you could not have anticipated that in response to the terrible crime, the stabbing of school children and their teacher, this would be their response.
“In effect, those filled with hate, and hate directed towards gardaí that they would attempt to storm through our cordon and disrupt a crime scene and then engage in violence, looting, and disorder including very significant criminal damage.
One Garda officer received a serious injury while “numerous other members injured” as missiles were thrown at them.
Mr Harris addressed the abuse that was directed at members of An Garda Síochána, saying: “A lot of members were injured by just being in the riot, in terms of things being thrown at them, as well as sprains and also it was an exhausting night in terms of the fast-moving situation.”
Over 400 members of An Garda Síochána were deployed to tackle the unrest including frontline uniformed Gardaí and over 250 Public Order Gardaí.
A formal investigation has been launched into the events of Thursday night and Gardaí are in the process of collecting CCTV footage and images from social media.
Rioters could face up to 10 years in jail The Minister for Justice has said the “violent thugs and criminals” who engaged in disorder in Dublin last night could face up to ten years in prison.
Minister Helen McEntee said: “We have very, very strong legislation – up to 10 years in prison with up to 12 years as well for someone who assaulted a member of An Garda Síochána.”
She said the scenes that unfolded were “incomprehensible” but commended gardaí for their efforts and said order was restored by midnight.
The scene on Parnell Street in Dublin city centre after violent scenes. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA The scene on Parnell Street in Dublin city centre after violent scenes. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA
During the course of the unrest, 13 shops were significantly damaged or subjected to looting.
This morning, O’Connell Street was dominated by the charred remains of burnt-out vehicles.
A clean-up effort has since removed the destroyed vehicles as well as debris and shattered glass.
Three buses, three Garda patrol cars, and one Luas tram were set alight.
Dublin Bus services are operating but cannot serve O’Connell Street North, and from Westmoreland Street to Abbey Street.
Northbound services are diverting via Fleet Street, Townsend Street, Gardiner Street, onto Parnell Square West.
Customers should expect delays and disruptions throughout the day and are advised to check DublinBus.ie and @dublinbusnews for updates.
Meanwhile, Red Line Luas services are only operating between Tallaght/ Saggart to Smithfield.
The operator of Luas services says extensive damage has been caused to overhead power cables in the city centre There is no service operating between Smithfield and Connolly/The Point.
Green Line services are operating between Brides Glen to St Stephen’s Green only. There is no service operating between St. Stephen’s Green and Broombridge.
A Luas spokesperson said tickets will be valid on Dublin Bus for the duration of the disruption.
O’Connell Street Lower to Westmoreland Street is also closed. Gardaí said a traffic management plan is in place.
The Mater Hospital has put visitor restrictions in place today and these will remain in place for the next 72 hours.
The only visitors allowed are those visiting patients in critical care, vulnerable young adults, psychiatry patients or loved ones who are receiving end-of-life care.
The hospital is continuing to provide all services to patients and all hospital appointments remain in place unless otherwise informed.
Meanwhile, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) expressed concern at the shocking events in Dublin.
“It is critical that we, as a society, do not allow this hateful, divisive ideology to infect our communities and our politics,” said chief commissioner Sinéad Gibney.
“So many of us, all around Ireland, have shown how welcoming we are to people from around the world who have come to live and work here.
“We have to be vigilant, and work to ensure that this practical solidarity continues, and is not undermined by those who only seek to sow division and hate.”
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