A fire has broken out at a disused factory in north Dublin following a protest over the site being earmarked to house asylum seekers.

A crowd of more than 1,000 people attended the protest at the former Crown Paints factory in Coolock which witnessed violent disorder this week amid anger at the accommodation plan.

A large crowd gathered at the scene on Friday evening where a number of speeches were delivered outside the factory.

The protest then moved to the Gardai station in Coolock before returning to the factory.

The protest took place at a disused factory being earmarked to house asylum seekers (Cate McCurry/PA)

People carried signs that read “Irish Lives Matter” and “The Irish People”.

A number of motorists on the Malahide Road beeped their horns in support of the protest.

There was a significant Gardai presence at the event.

The protest was organised by a group called “Coolock Says No” protesting against government plans to use the former factory to house aslyum seekers.

Organisers said in advance that it would be a peaceful event.

After a number of the protesters dispersed, a fire broke out at the site.

The former Crown Paints factory witnessed violent disorder on Monnday when Irish police came under sustained attack.

A protester throws an object at officers as they deploy pepper spray (Niall Carson/PA)

Fifteen people – 13 men and two women – appeared before a late-night sitting at the Criminal Courts of Justice on Monday, charged with a range of public order offences.

Six others appeared in court on Tuesday.

A number of Garda cars were damaged during the disturbances and public order officers used incapacitant spray on protesters who threw missiles at them.

On Thursday evening, a separate fire broke out at the site.

Dublin Fire Brigade said two fire engines had attended the scene.