‘This was an attack on our city’

THE riots in Dublin city centre were a “dark day for Dublin” according to Lord Mayor of Dublin Daithí de Róiste.

“On an evening when we should all be thinking of those poor people that were attacked at the top of this street, in a horrible act of violence, instead we are dealing with thuggish behaviour all across this city.

“This wasn’t a protest this was an attack on our city,” said the Cherry Orchard councillor to RTE radio.

“It’s still smouldering here this morning on O’Connell Street.

“Our emergency services were the same people that were mindlessly attacked last night and that disgusts me.”

A damaged Dublin Fire Brigade engine (Image: DFB)

Some 34 persons were arrested after riots broke out following the stabbing of three children and two adults, which occurred outside Gaelscoil Cholaiste Mhuire on Parnell Square East shortly after 1.30pm on Thursday afternoon.

Authorities say the man suspected of carrying out the attack is an Irish citizen, who has lived in the country for 20 years.

A five-year-old girl remains in a critical condition at Temple Street.

Another girl, aged 6, continues to receive medical treatment for injuries in CHI Crumlin, and a boy, aged 5, was discharged from CHI Crumlin yesterday evening.

Two adults, a female in her 30s, and a male in his 50s, remains in a serious condition in The Mater Hospital.

A total of 13 stores were damaged, and more than 400 gardai were deployed to dispel rioters, who also set fire to three buses, one Luas tram and 11 garda cars.

DFB worked through the night and into the morning to make the city safe  (Image: DFB)

One garda was seriously injured and is currently receiving treatment in hospital, and 32 of the 34 people arrested appeared in the Criminal Court of Justice on Friday morning for public order and theft offences.

Mark Condren, a photographer with the Irish Independent, claims he heard a call of ‘we’re the Tallaght group” as the crowds started to get bigger.

Speaking to Claire Byrne of RTE radio, Condren said: “They started coming in from all the side streets and at one stage you could hear people ‘we’re the Tallaght group’ and certain groups whatever.

“They started coming from everywhere.”

Condren arrived as the situation was developing, and says it started in the Parnell Square area, kicking off when the crime scene was broken, leading to the arrival of the riot squad “and it got ugly.”

He witnessed garda cars set alight and the build up of a larger crowd when the riot squad pushed people towards the top of O’Connell Street.

Mayor of South Dublin County Alan Edge said the tragedy “has been used by far-right thugs to justify a rampage” and that “we need tougher action now to tackle the far-right.”

An Garda Síochána have commenced a formal investigation and an incident room has been established at Store Street Garda Station and a Senior Investigating Officer has been appointed.

Gardai are in the process of collating and harvesting CCTV and social media images from the events yesterday.

An Garda Síochána appeals to any person with any information on the events last night or has any information on persons organising or involved in yesterday’s events to contact the Garda investigation team at Store Street Garda Station at 666 8000, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any garda station.