A building earmarked to house asylum seekers at a disused site in Coolock is on fire for a second time this week.
Riot police are currently trying to clear protesters from the road outside the former Crown Paints site to allow fire trucks to gain access, as bottles and fireworks are being launched at gardaí, and smoke billows over the wall from the fire inside.
Some have charged protesters in order to clear the way for fire crews to get in.
It comes after an earlier, much larger anti-asylum rally of about 1,000 people that marched from the site towards the local garda station passed off peacefully.
Protesters take part in a demonstration in Coolock, north Dublin, on Friday evening. Photo: PA
The rally took place on the Malahide Road this evening following a week in which the north Dublin suburb was engulfed in clashes with gardaí centred on a site earmarked to house asylum seekers.
Several hundred people gathered at the site on the Malahide Road, which was closed in both directions for a time on Friday evening, with speeches being made by activists during the rally under the ‘Coolock Says No’ banner.
Gardaí said it responded to a public order incident at the site.
“A small fire which broke out at the same location a short time ago is being attended to by Dublin Fire Brigade,” said a garda spokeswoman.
“No injuries have been reported.
“A section of the Malahide Road, Coolock is currently closed in both directions. Motorists are advised to use an alternative route if travelling in this area.
“This is a live operation, therefore An Garda Síochána has no further information at present.”
People take part in a demonstration in Coolock, north Dublin (Cate McCurry/PA)
A major garda security operation was in place, and uniformed gardaí walked among the crowd, which was made up of anti-immigration activists and politicians, as well as local people of all ages including families with buggies and children. Some of those in attendance had their pet dogs with them on leads.
About two dozen youths in attendance wore face coverings, and some of those in attendance carried Irish flags bearing the Proclamation of Independence which has now become typical of far-right demonstrations.
Organisers of the rally in Coolock called for local people and activists to gather at the site. They were opposing its use as accommodation for about 500 asylum seekers, as well as opposing immigration generally.
Following the rally, they had intended to march to the local garda station to lodge formal complaints against what they claim was garda brutality.
After several speeches, the march took off towards the garda station, with some marchers chanting slogans including ‘Out, out, out!” and “Whose streets? Our streets.”
However, by around 7pm, the march was stopped from approaching the garda station by a line of about 20 uniformed gardaí blocking their path, with about a dozen garda vans behind them.
Some activists and masked youths screamed at the gardaí, but the march then largely dispersed, with no disturbances.
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Speakers earlier at the former Crown Paints site included Inner City councillor Malachy Steenson, and Irish Freedom Party councillor Glen Moore, who is based in Palmerstown-Fonthill in the south of the county.
On Monday around 20 people were arrested after a day of major clashes with gardaí after a protest camp at the entrance to the former Crown Paints facility was cleared, with a security guard hospitalised and equipment on the site burnt out.
Fireworks and missiles were thrown at gardaí, with Public Order Unit gardaí using batons and pepper spray on violent protesters.
There was some criticism of a delay in sending the Public Order Unit to the site from representatives from rank-and-file gardaí.
There were further gatherings throughout the week, and on Thursday night part a building on the site was set on fire despite the presence of large concrete barriers at the entrance and gardaí stationed at at the site.
Fire at the former Crown Paints site in Coolock, Dublin. Photo: Dublin Fire Brigade.
Separately, in Limerick the former Railway Hotel was targeted in a suspected arson attack, as rumours circulated that it would be used to house asylum seekers.
Earlier on Friday, Taoiseach Simon Harris defended the actions of Gardaí and hit out at those engaging in anti-social behaviour in Coolock in recent days.
Speaking at the MacGill Summer School in Glenties, Co Donegal, Mr Harris admitted the Government must do a better job at consulting communities over migration.
However, he added he believes there is no government strategy or billboard that would made have “someone not throw a petrol bomb at a guard or set a digger on fire.”
Speaking during the summer school, Mr Harris said, “Shame on every single one of those people who try to divide our country or our community because that is not us.
“When you saw those scenes in Coolock, the way my brain works is that I think of the man or woman who got up that morning and kissed their kids goodbye, put on their Garda uniform and then had people throw bricks at them.
“But what warmed my heart was the local community calling them out.
“This is not Coolock, this is not Ireland.
“This is not who we are.
“So to the small group of people, online and offline, who seeking to cause division, and to the people who think it is acceptable to make a death threat to a politician or threaten my family or threaten the family of Mary Lou McDonald, or anyone else, shame on them.
“We are better than this.
“Let’s have our debates and debate migration policy – let’s not leave it to the far right, far left or whatever you are having yourself.
“Let’s talk calmly and respectfully about a new challenge and opportunity but let’s not let these people in any way damage our social cohesion because I know that is not reflective of the country we are,” said Mr Harris.
Mr Harris acknowledged that anyone in Ireland is allowed to protest, however he branded the recent events as lawlessness, thuggery and criminal activity being carried out by a small number of people.
He also moved to defend Gardaí for their actions at the scene in recent days.
He continued, “What I really won’t accept in any manner or means is that when people engage in lawlessness, the first line of questioning is that did the gardai do their job.
“I am extremely proud of the job done by An Garda Síochána.
“People who have put themselves in harm’s way while others threw bricks at them, lit fires and threw petrol bombs.
“I have a very clear understanding of the difference between protest and lawlessness and between protest and criminality, and I think it is very important everyone else does too.
“If you engage in protest, you would be fully protected by the law, but if you engage in lawlessness, cross the line and engage in thuggery, you will meet the full rigours of the law,” said Mr Harris.
Mr Harris said he knew the incidents were not reflective of the community in Coolock.
“It is Coolock today and this has happened in other places in the country, and I want to recognise very publicly that there have been local people in Coolock calling for this to stop.
“They very much recognise the difference between a community wishing to engage and people looking to sow division and generally bring fear and mayhem to an area – that cannot be tolerated.
“I want to thank the Gardaí for the work they have done, and I want to ensure people right across the country that gardaí will continue to apply the laws without fear or failure, and off course, they are supported in that role with new bodycams,” said Mr Harris.