Garda van set alight and public order unit deployed as gardai and protesters clash in Citywest

"A tense standoff between protesters and gardaí continues and a garda helicopter has been deployed Public order gardaí were deployed to the hotel in west Dublin tonight after a large crowd gathered at the entrance of the facility, which is currently being used to house asylum-seekers. Fireworks and other objects were thrown at gardaí as the crowd swelled in numbers. Gardaí engaged a number of people as they attempted to clear the entrance to the facility. A number of people were pepper sprayed."

"A barricade erected at the entrance by gardaí was the line of contact between protesters and officers before the public order unit came from behind the barrier and moved the crowd. Earlier, a number of gardaí near the entrance to the Citywest Hotel were chased along the road by a large group and at least two men on horses. A tense standoff between protesters and gardaí continues and a garda helicopter has been deployed."

Protesters gathered at the entrance of a west Dublin hotel being used to house asylum-seekers, prompting deployment of public order gardaí and a garda helicopter. Fireworks and other objects were thrown at officers as the crowd swelled. Gardaí engaged several people while attempting to clear the entrance, using pepper spray on a number of individuals. A barricade at the entrance served as the line of contact before the public order unit moved the crowd from behind the barrier. Earlier, some gardaí were chased along the road by a large group and at least two men on horses. The incident marks the second successive night of crowds at the facility and follows a charge related to an alleged assault of a child at the entrance.

Read at Irish Independent