Dublin riots – latest: Police say water cannon ready in case of disturbances as girl fights for her life

The use of water cannons are “an available tactic” for Irish police in the event of further disturbances in Dublin later on Saturday.

There were chaotic scenes on Thursday evening – which involved far-right elements – with Garda cars, buses and trams set alight, and shops looted and damaged after a knife attack on three children and their care assistant outside a school in the north inner city.

It came as Irish police issued an update on the conditions of the victims of the Dublin school knife attack as a five-year-old girl was left fighting for her life.

Garda told The Independent on Saturday afternoon that the girl who was among a number of people stabbed outside Gaelscoil Cholaiste Mhuire primary school in the Irish capital on Thursday remains in critical condition at CHI Temple Street.

The six-year-old girl, who was receiving medical treatment for less serious injuries, has now been discharged from hospital, after a boy, aged 5, was previously discharged.

The adult woman, a nursery worker aged in her 30s, is in a serious but stable condition in The Mater Hospital.

Meanwhile, the adult man, aged in his late 40s, is in a serious but stable condition in a hospital in the Dublin Region. Garda said he remains a “person of interest” in its inquiries as the force continues to investigate the knife attack.

It comes as 32 people have been charged over the riots that subsequently broke out across the Irish capital.

Leo Varadkar, Ireland’s prime minister, condemned the more than 500 rioters as bringing “shame” on Dublin, Ireland, their families and themselves.

Key Points

• Police give update on stabbing victims

• Girl, 5, critical as 32 charged over ‘huge destruction’ riots

• Rioters driven by ‘hate’ not patriotism - Varadkar

• Irish police trawl through 6,000 hours of CCTV footage in Dublin riots probe

• How the Dublin riots began

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13:25 , Tara Cobham

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Visit The Independent’s homepage for all the latest updates.

Donohoe gives ‘full support’ to Irish Justice Minister and Garda commissioner

13:17 , Tara Cobham

Full confidence has been expressed in the Irish Justice Minister and the head of the Irish police after they faced calls to quit following the worst rioting seen in the state for decades.

Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe also cautioned against division after Garda cars, a bus and a tram were set alight, shops damaged and looted and officers attacked during violent scenes, which involved far-right elements, in Dublin last week.

It came shortly after three children and a women were injured in a stabbing attack outside a school in the north city centre.

Rebecca Black reports:

Donohoe gives ‘full support’ to Irish Justice Minister and Garda commissioner

Watch: Irish Parliament protected by ring of steel following rioting in Dublin

12:58 , Tara Cobham

Ireland’s police defended by government minister in wake of riots

11:50 , Tara Cobham

Garda has been defended by an Irish government minister in the wake of the violent riots that ripped through Dublin on Thursday night.

Pascal Donohoe said Ireland’s police faced an unprecedented situation when chaotic scenes broke out across the capital following a knife attack on three children and their care assistant outside Gaelscoil Cholaiste Mhuire primary school on Thursday lunchtime.

Speaking on BBC News NI’s Sunday Politics programme, he acknowledged that law and order were not maintained “in our city centre as we would want and the country would expect” but praised the force’s “exceptional work” in “tough and demanding circumstances”.

Some 48 arrests made in Dublin since Thursday

10:32 , Tara Cobham

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said 48 arrests have been made in the city since Thursday and a high-visibility policing plan is in place throughout the weekend, including the deployment of four public order units.

The Garda dog unit and the mounted unit are also being deployed, and two water cannon have been described as available for use if required.

The water cannon are on loan from the Police Service of Northern Ireland following a request for mutual aid from Garda Commissioner Drew Harris.

They will solely be operated by members of An Garda Siochana if deployed.

‘Thuggery’ on streets of Dublin will not be tolerated – Irish Justice Minister

09:45 , Tara Cobham

Further “thuggery” on the streets of Dublin “will not be tolerated”, Ireland’s Justice Minister has warned.

There has been a heavy gardai presence in the Irish capital across the weekend following rioting on Thursday night.

The chaotic scenes – which involved far-right elements – saw Garda cars, buses and trams set alight, and shops looted and damaged after a knife attack on three children and their care assistant outside a school in the north inner city.

Rebecca Black reports:

‘Thuggery’ on streets of Dublin will not be tolerated – Irish Justice Minister

Over £280,000 raised for Deliveroo hero who stopped Dublin child knife attack

09:00 , Anuj Pant

A fundraiser for a hero Deliveroo driver who stopped a knife attack in Dublin has reached nearly £300,000 as it encouraged supporters to buy the brave Brazillian a pint.

Caio Benicio, 43, was hailed as a hero for ending an assault on three children in Dublin after he jumped off his bike to hit the attacker over the head with his helmet.

The father-of-two told the Daily Mail that he “acted by instinct” after he drove past Parnell Square and saw what he thought was a “normal fight”.

Mr Benicio said the man fell to the ground and others came over to help keep him there.

The hero driver who moved to Ireland from Rio de Janeiro a year ago said: “I didn’t have time to be afraid. I have two kids myself and I didn’t have time to be afraid, I just acted.”

Organiser Paul Darcy set up the GoFundMe page saying: “The man’s a hero and the least we can do is buy him a pint, so I’m asking you to donate the price of a pint of Guinness in your local so that he knows the people of Dublin appreciate him.”

Read more below.

Over £280,000 raised for Deliveroo hero who stopped Dublin child knife attack

How the Dublin riots began: From flares and fireworks at a crime scene to hundreds-strong mob

08:00 , Anuj Pant

Violent riots that broke out across Dublin city centre on Thursday evening flared after a knife attack on children and their care assistant outside a school earlier in the day.

Three young children and an adult woman and man were all injured in the stabbings outside the Irish-medium primary school Gaelscoil Cholaiste Mhuire on Parnell Square East at approximately 1.30pm, an incident that immediately made headlines.

Garda (Irish police) said on Saturday that they are continuing to investigate the knife attack, which left a five-year-old girl in a critical condition and still fighting for her life in hospital on Saturday.

A second girl, aged 6, continues to receive medical treatment for less serious injuries in CHI Crumlin. A boy, aged 5, was discharged from CHI Crumlin yesterday evening.

The children’s care assistant, a woman in her 30s who was said by the authorities to have used her body to protect the children, remains in a serious condition in the Mater Hospital. A man in his 50s also remains in a serious condition in a hospital in the Dublin region.

Read more below.

Flares and fireworks at a crime scene: How the chaos in Dublin began

Elon Musk weighs in on Dublin riots claiming country’s PM ‘hates the Irish people’

07:00 , Anuj Pant

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and owner of X/Twitter, said Irish prime minister Leo Varadkar “hates the Irish people” after the nation announced its intent to “modernise” its laws against hate and hate speech.

The interaction took place on Mr Musk’s social media platform. He was responding to a meme account that shared a snippet of a news story about the legislative initiative and complained that the “Irish government want all of your freedoms.”

“Irish children were stabbed by a foreign man in Dublin yesterday yet the government twist the story and use the backlash as an opportunity to pass new hate speech laws,” the owner of the account wrote. “The Irish government want all of your freedoms.”

Mr Musk, the wealthiest man on the planet and the owner of one of the most influential social media platforms, responded to the account by saying “Ironically, the Irish PM hates the Irish people.”

Read more below.

Elon Musk weighs in on Dublin riots claiming country’s PM ‘hates the Irish people’

Girl, 6, released from hospital as another girl still critical

06:30 , Barney Davis

Another child, who was injured in the Dublin stabbing attack was released by medical staff after she was admitted to hospital with head injuries.

A five-year-old girl who was among three children injured in a knife attack in Dublin was fighting for her life on Friday as the spotlight fell on far-right groups in Ireland following a night of riots in the Irish capital.

Police chiefs said they expected many more arrest to follow after 34 were held following a night of disturbances when about 500 far-right sympathisers and apparently angry youths on Thursday went on the rampage, causing damage that could cost tens of millions of euros to repair, according to Irish premier Leo Varadkar.

Girl, 5, fights for her life as far-right hooligans blamed for Dublin rioting

Irish police trawl through 6,000 hours of CCTV footage in Dublin riots probe

05:30 , Barney Davis

Police in Ireland are trawling through 6,000 hours of CCTV footage as a major investigation into riots in Dublin’s city centre continues.

The violence in the Irish capital on Thursday – which involved far-right elements and saw Garda cars, buses and trams set alight and shops looted and damaged – flared after a knife attack on three children and their care assistant outside a school in the north inner city.

There were a small number of arrests on Friday evening as gardai mounted a significant security operation around the O’Connell Street thoroughfare to avoid a repeat of the violent scenes from the night before.

Jonathan McCambridge reports:

Irish police trawl through 6,000 hours of CCTV footage in Dublin riots probe

How the Dublin riots began: From flares and fireworks at a crime scene to hundreds-strong mob

03:30 , Barney Davis

Violent riots that broke out across Dublin city centre on Thursday evening flared after a knife attack on children and their care assistant outside a school earlier in the day.

Three young children and an adult woman and man were all injured in the stabbings outside the Irish-medium primary school Gaelscoil Cholaiste Mhuire on Parnell Square East at approximately 1.30pm, an incident that immediately made headlines.

Garda (Irish police) said on Saturday that they are continuing to investigate the knife attack, which left a five-year-old girl in a critical condition and still fighting for her life in hospital on Saturday.

Tara Cobham reports:

Flares and fireworks at a crime scene: How the chaos in Dublin began

Water cannon available tactic to prevent further riots

02:30 , Barney Davis

Use of water cannon is “an available tactic” for Irish police in the event of further disturbances in Dublin later.

There were chaotic scenes on Thursday evening – which involved far-right elements – with Garda cars, buses and trams set alight, and shops looted and damaged after a knife attack on three children and their care assistant outside a school in the north inner city.

Some 34 people were arrested during the scenes on the Irish capital’s main thoroughfare O’Connell Street, and Garda officers are trawling 6,000 hours of CCTV footage from the night.

Water cannon ‘an available tactic’ for Irish police in Dublin

Deliveroo hero fundraiser hits €300k

01:30 , Barney Davis

A fundraiser for a hero Deliveroo driver who stopped a knife attack in Dublin has reached £300,000 as it encouraged supporters to buy the brave Brazillian a pint.

Caio Benicio, 43, was hailed as a hero for ending an assault on three children in Dublin after he jumped off his bike to hit the attacker over the head with his helmet.

The father-of-two told the Daily Mail that he “acted by instinct” after he drove past Parnell Square and saw what he thought was a “normal fight”.

Over £280,000 raised for Deliveroo hero who stopped Dublin child knife attack

Musk says Irish PM hates the Irish people

Saturday 25 November 2023 21:19 , Barney Davis

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and owner of X/Twitter, said that Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar “hates the Irish people” after the nation announced its intent to “modernise” its laws against hate and hate speech.

The interaction took place on Mr Musk’s social media platform.

Graig Graziosi reports:

Elon Musk weighs in on Dublin riots claiming country’s PM ‘hates the Irish people’

Total of 48 arrests in Dublin disorder as ‘high visibility’ patrols ordered to quell further violence

Saturday 25 November 2023 20:36 , Barney Davis

A total of 48 people have been arrested in Dublin over the past two days.

The Minster for Justice Helen McEntee said she had been briefed on Saturday afternoon by Garda Commissioner Drew Harris on policing plans in place for the city centre, to ensure there was no repeat of the rioting.

“A total of 48 arrests have been made in the city since Thursday and a high visibility policing plan is in place throughout the weekend, including the deployment of four public order units,” she said.

Dublin getting back to normal as shoppers return

Saturday 25 November 2023 19:10 , Barney Davis

Shoppers are flooding back to Dublin city centre after violence flared on Thursday night.

BBC reporter Mark Simpson is at the scene posting a video of people going back to Christmas shopping.

Some 34 people were arrested during the scenes on the Irish capital’s main thoroughfare O’Connell Street, and Garda officers are trawling 6,000 hours of CCTV footage from the night.

Fundraiser to buy hero Deliveroo driver a pint hits €300k

Saturday 25 November 2023 18:18 , Barney Davis

A fundraiser for a hero Deliveroo driver who stopped a knife attack in Dublin has reached nearly £300,000 as it encouraged supporters to buy the brave Brazillian a pint.

Caio Benicio, 43, was hailed as a hero for ending an assault on three children in Dublin after he jumped off his bike to hit the attacker over the head with his helmet.

The father-of-two told The Daily Mail that he “acted by instinct” after he drove past Parnell Square and saw what he thought was a “normal fight”.

Doctor passing stabbing on bike stopped to intubate girl, according to colleague

Saturday 25 November 2023 17:16 , Barney Davis

A nurse has asked people to think of a passing doctor who may have helped save the life of the Dublin stabbing victim.

The five-year-old girl stabbed outside the school in Dublin remains in critical condition at CHI Temple Street, Garda has confirmed this afternoon.

The six-year-old girl, who was receiving medical treatment for less serious injuries in CHI Crumlin, has now been discharged from hospital and returned to the care of her family, said Irish police.

After a parent shared a GoFundMe for the care worker escorting the kids to afterschool, one nurse replied: “Can I just also ask people to think Temple St Anaesthetic Consultant who was passing by on his bike and stopped to assist & intubated the little girl.”

Intubation is a process where a healthcare provider inserts a tube through a person’s mouth or nose, then down into their airway.

Chief suspect has had several credible threats on his life - police

Saturday 25 November 2023 16:16 , Barney Davis

The chief suspect in the horror stabbing in Dublin that sparked riots across the city is being protected by police in hospital.

There have been reports of credible threats to the individual’s life, The Irish Times reports.

Meanwhile, the adult man, aged in his late 40s, is in a serious but stable condition in a hospital in the Dublin Region, said Garda.

The force said he remains a “person of interest” in its inquiries as police continue to investigate the knife attack.

Father hails care worker an ‘absolute hero’ after protecting son from knifeman

Saturday 25 November 2023 16:09 , Tara Cobham

A father who says his six-year-old son was among the group of children targeted by a knifeman outside a Dublin school has hailed their care worker an “absolute hero” after she “stepped in front of a knife for him and the other kids”.

Writing on social media, Garrett Fitzgerald said: “My six-year-old son was part of a group of junior and senior infants who were attacked yesterday as they walked to their after school on Parnell Square.

“My son’s care worker stepped in front of a knife for him and the other kids. She wrestled the guy long enough, to allow the other kids to run away and for help to arrive. Words fail me.

“She’s an absolute hero.”

He said a GoFundMe has been set up for her by a friend.

The woman, aged in her 30s, is in a serious but stable condition in The Mater Hospital.

Mr Fitzgerald added: “She was one of many heroes yesterday, including passers-by who intervened, first responders and the children themselves.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with those still in hospital and anyone who has been affected by this awful tragedy.”

Government will tighten anti-hate legislation, says Varadkar

Saturday 25 November 2023 15:30 , Tara Cobham

Leo Varadkar, Ireland’s prime minister, has said his government would take immediate steps to tighten anti-hate legislation he said was unfit for the social media age.

"As a country we need to reclaim Ireland. We need to take it away from the cowerers who hide behind masks and try to terrify us with their violence," Varadkar said in an emotional statement.

Reserve Gardaí support enhanced policing operation in Dublin on Saturday

Saturday 25 November 2023 15:00 , Tara Cobham

Reserve Gardaí are supporting the enhanced policing operation in Dublin city centre on Saturday, Irish police have said.

Water cannon ‘an available tactic’ for Irish police in Dublin

Saturday 25 November 2023 14:30 , Tara Cobham

Use of water cannon is “an available tactic” for Irish police in the event of further disturbances in Dublin later.

There were chaotic scenes on Thursday evening – which involved far-right elements – with Garda cars, buses and trams set alight, and shops looted and damaged after a knife attack on three children and their care assistant outside a school in the north inner city.

Some 34 people were arrested during the scenes on the Irish capital’s main thoroughfare O’Connell Street, and Garda officers are trawling 6,000 hours of CCTV footage from the night.

Rebecca Black reports:

Water cannon ‘an available tactic’ for Irish police in Dublin

Police give update on stabbing victims

Saturday 25 November 2023 14:03 , Tara Cobham

The five-year-old girl stabbed outside the school in Dublin remains in critical condition at CHI Temple Street, Garda has confirmed this afternoon.

The six-year-old girl, who was receiving medical treatment for less serious injuries in CHI Crumlin, has now been discharged from hospital and returned to the care of her family, said Irish police.

The adult woman, a nursery worker, aged in her 30s, is in a serious but stable condition in The Mater Hospital, added the force.

Meanwhile, the adult man, aged in his late 40s, is in a serious but stable condition in a hospital in the Dublin Region, said Garda. The force said he remains a “person of interest” in its inquiries as police continue to investigate the knife attack.

A five-year-old boy was previously discharged from hospital.

How the Dublin riots began

Saturday 25 November 2023 14:00 , Tara Cobham

Violent riots that broke out across Dublin city centre on Thursday evening flared after a knife attack on children and their care assistant outside a school earlier in the day.

Three young children and an adult woman and man were all injured in the stabbings outside the Irish-medium primary school Gaelscoil Cholaiste Mhuire on Parnell Square East at approximately 1.30pm, an incident that immediately made headlines.

Garda (Irish police) said on Saturday that they are continuing to investigate the knife attack, which left a five-year-old girl in a critical condition and still fighting for her life in hospital on Saturday.

Joe Sommerlad reports:

Flares and fireworks at a crime scene: How the chaos in Dublin began

Legislation over use of body-worn cameras by police ‘to be fast-tracked'

Saturday 25 November 2023 13:30 , Tara Cobham

Amid criticism of the Garda response to the riots, Government ministers met and heard that legislation to facilitate the use of body-worn cameras by police officers will be fast-tracked.

Justice Minister Helen McEntee also told colleagues that officers are trawling 6,000 hours of CCTV footage and vowed that further arrests would follow the 34 already made.

Some arrests on Friday evening

Saturday 25 November 2023 12:00 , Tara Cobham

There were a small number of arrests in Dublin city centre on Friday evening.

Gardai mounted a significant security operation around the O’Connell Street thoroughfare to avoid a repeat of the violent scenes from the night before.

Justice Minister rejects call from Sinn Fein leader to resign

Saturday 25 November 2023 11:30 , Tara Cobham

The Justice Minister rejected a call from Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald for her and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris to resign.

Helen McEntee said: “If Sinn Fein wish to debate law and order, if Sinn Fein wish to debate how we can support the gardai, I have no problem in standing over Fine Gael’s record of law and order, Fine Gael’s record of supporting members of An Garda Siochana.

“I do not believe Sinn Fein can stand over their record.”

Mrs McDonald said there had been a “an unacceptable, unprecedented collapse in policing” and that a problem leading to Thursday’s riot had been “building for months”.

Justice Minister insists Garda has resources to keep Dublin safe over weekend

Saturday 25 November 2023 11:00 , Tara Cobham

The Irish Justice Minister has insisted that the Garda has all the resources necessary to keep people in Dublin safe over the weekend.

Helen McEntee said this included securing the use of two water cannons from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).

Irish Justice Minister vows further arrests will follow in wake of Dublin riots

Saturday 25 November 2023 10:30 , Tara Cobham

Irish Justice Minister Helen McEntee has vowed that further arrests would follow the 34 already made in the wake of the riots in Dublin.

Some 32 people have so far been charged in connection to the disorder that broke out in the capital following a knife attack that left five people injured, including a five-year-old girl who is still fighting for her life.

Dublin City Centre is ‘open for normal business’, says Garda

Saturday 25 November 2023 09:15 , Tara Cobham

Dublin City Centre is “open for normal business”, Garda has said.

An enhanced policing plan was in place on Friday evening, said the force, after the violent riots that erupted in the Irish capital this week.

It comes as shoppers are expected to descend on high streets across the country for Black Friday weekend.

Conor McGregor reacts to Dublin riots after declaring Ireland is ‘at war’

Saturday 25 November 2023 08:31 , Tara Cobham

Conor McGregor has said he ‘does not condone’ the riots in Dublin but insisted that a ‘change’ must occur, after a knife attack left five people injured – including three children.

A five-year-old girl was left in critical condition after an attack in Dublin on Thursday (23 November), which led to violent protests in the Irish capital.

Former UFC champion McGregor was quick to criticise the government’s reaction to the stabbing, having already been vocal this week after the sentencing of Jozef Puska, a 33-year-old Slovak who was jailed for life over the murder of 23-year-old Irish woman Ashling Murphy.

Alex Pattle, Combat Sports Correspondent reports:

Conor McGregor reacts to Dublin riots after declaring Ireland is ‘at war’

Irish police trawl through 6,000 hours of CCTV footage in Dublin riots probe

Saturday 25 November 2023 08:00 , Anuj Pant

Police in Ireland are trawling through 6,000 hours of CCTV footage as a major investigation into riots in Dublin’s city centre continues.

The violence in the Irish capital on Thursday – which involved far-right elements and saw Garda cars, buses and trams set alight and shops looted and damaged – flared after a knife attack on three children and their care assistant outside a school in the north inner city.

Justice minister Helen McEntee also told colleagues that officers are trawling 6,000 hours of CCTV footage and vowed that further arrests would follow the 34 already made.

Ms McEntee also rejected a call from Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald for her and Garda commissioner Drew Harris to resign.

Read more below.

Irish police trawl through 6,000 hours of CCTV footage in Dublin riots probe

Garda have ‘all resources necessary’ to keep people safe following Dublin riots

Saturday 25 November 2023 07:00 , Holly Evans

Ireland’s police force has all the resources necessary to keep people in Dublin safe over the weekend, Justice Minister Helen McEntee has vowed.

Ms McEntee also responded to criticism of the violent scenes in the city centre on Thursday night that saw Garda cars, buses and trams set alight and shops looted and damaged, by insisting she would not resign.

The violence in the Irish capital, which involved far-right elements, flared after a knife attack on three schoolchildren and their care assistant outside a school in the north inner city.

Read the full article here

Garda have ‘all resources necessary’ to keep people safe following Dublin riots

Legislation for police to use body-worn cameras to be fast-tracked

Saturday 25 November 2023 06:00 , Holly Evans

Legislation allowing Garda officers to use body-worn cameras is to be fast-tracked, Irish ministers have been told.

Ministers met on Friday evening to discuss the response to violence which flared in Dublin city centre on Thursday evening.

Justice Minister Helen McEntee told the meeting that Garda are trawling 6,000 hours of CCTV footage and further arrests are certain.

She also briefed that the Recordings Devices Bill will be fast-tracked and enacted in the near future, allowing body-worn cameras to come into use for gardai.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar told ministers he had spoken with the principal of the Gaelscoil Cholaiste Mhuire school, outside which three children and a woman were stabbed on Thursday, as well the manager of the Children’s Place Nursery and Montessori and representatives of the Dublin business community.

How the Dublin riots began

Saturday 25 November 2023 05:00 , Holly Evans

The riots that broke out across Dublin city centre on Thursday evening appear to have begun as a heated demonstration at the scene of a tragic incident that took place earlier in the day, Irish police have said.

Three young children and an adult woman and man were all injured in a knife attack outside the Irish-medium primary school Gaelscoil Cholaiste Mhuire on Parnell Square East at approximately 1.30pm on Thursday lunchtime, an incident that immediately made headlines.

Two girls hurt in the attack are currently receiving treatment for serious injuries while a five-year-old boy has already been discharged from hospital. Both adults remain in care and are being treated for serious wounds.

Read the full article here

Flares and fireworks at a crime scene: How the chaos in Dublin began

‘Nobody could have anticipated’ Dublin violence, says Ireland police chief

Saturday 25 November 2023 04:00 , Holly Evans

‘Nobody could have anticipated’ Dublin violence, says Ireland police chief

Delivery driver who stopped attacker in Dublin recalls harrowing incident

Saturday 25 November 2023 03:00 , Holly Evans

Delivery driver who stopped attacker in Dublin recalls harrowing incident

Boris Johnson links Dublin ‘race riots’ to immigration fears

Saturday 25 November 2023 02:00 , Holly Evans

Boris Johnson has labelled the violent scenes in Dublin “race riots”, and suggested that “achingly liberal” countries like Ireland now have concerns about the pace of immigration.

The former UK prime minister used his weekly Daily Mail column to drawn on the disorder in the Irish capital to make the case for the UK to take tougher action to curb net migration.

It comes after the latest data showed a record number of arrivals to the UK last year.

Read the full article here

Boris Johnson links Dublin ‘race riots’ to immigration fears

Narrative of extremism must be challenged, Scottish First Minister says

Saturday 25 November 2023 01:00 , Holly Evans

The narrative of extremism must be challenged from wherever it emerges, Humza Yousaf has said.

The Scottish First Minister was speaking after rioting in Dublin, where he praised Irish police for “running towards danger”.

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said the scenes showed that elected politicians needed to be able to articulate the concerns of their electorate.

Read the full article here

Narrative of extremism must be challenged, Scottish First Minister says

Conor McGregor reacts to Dublin riots after declaring Ireland is ‘at war’

Saturday 25 November 2023 00:00 , Holly Evans

Conor McGregor has said he ‘does not condone’ the riots in Dublin but insisted that a ‘change’ must occur, after a knife attack left five people injured – including three children.

A five-year-old girl was left in critical condition after an attack in Dublin on Thursday (23 November), which led to violent protests in the Irish capital.

Former UFC champion McGregor was quick to criticise the government’s reaction to the stabbing, having already been vocal this week after the sentencing of Jozef Puska, a 33-year-old Slovak who was jailed for life over the murder of 23-year-old Irish woman Ashling Murphy.

Read the full article here

Conor McGregor reacts to Dublin riots after declaring Ireland is ‘at war’

I lived through the Syrian war – but now I feel unsafe in Dublin

Friday 24 November 2023 23:00 , Holly Evans

Of all days, my introvert brown-skinned, half-Palestinian, half-Syrian husband, who embraces working from home as a software engineer, is out in Dublin city centre for his work Christmas dinner. I kiss him goodbye before he takes the Luas train, oblivious to how our night is about to turn upside down.

I’ve been following the news earlier in the day. I’ve read about the horrific stabbing of kids and caretakers. As a mother of a six-year-old boy, I think of the mothers receiving the news of their worst nightmare. Why in the world would anyone commit such a terrible crime?

Read the full article from Suad Aldarra here

I lived through the Syrian war – but now I feel unsafe in Dublin

Garda police make a number of arrests on Friday evening

Friday 24 November 2023 22:00 , Holly Evans

Gardai made a number of arrests on O’Connell Street in Dublin city centre on Friday night.

Police are mounting a significant security operation in the area following violence which flared in the aftermath of a stabbing attack on Thursday.

A number of people were taken away in police vans following sporadic altercations.

Fundraiser for hero driver raises twice as much as collection for children and carer

Friday 24 November 2023 20:55 , Jane Dalton

A fundraising effort for the motorbike food delivery driver who hit the knife attacker with his helmet has raised more than £210,000 so far.

The GoFundMe page was set up to “buy Caio Benicio a pint”.

As of 8.30pm on Friday it had raised €246,051, from more than 23,000 donations.

But a page to raise funds for the children and their care assistant attacked had raised only just over half that amount – €129,951 (£112,000) from just over 7,000 donations.

New arrests made in city centre

Friday 24 November 2023 20:26 , Jane Dalton

Gardai made a number of arrests in O’Connell Street in Dublin city centre on Friday night.

Police are mounting a significant security operation in the area following violence which flared in the aftermath of a stabbing attack on Thursday.

A number of people were taken away in police vans following sporadic altercations.

Body cameras for police to be fast-tracked, minister says

Friday 24 November 2023 20:04 , Jane Dalton

Legislation allowing Garda officers to use body-worn cameras is to be fast-tracked, Irish ministers have been told.

As ministers met to discuss the response to the violence, Justice Minister Helen McEntee told the meeting that gardai were trawling 6,000 hours of CCTV footage and further arrests were certain.

She also said the Recordings Devices Bill will be fast-tracked and enacted in the near future, allowing body-worn cameras to come into use for gardai.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar told ministers he had spoken with the principal of the Gaelscoil Cholaiste Mhuire school, outside which three children and a woman were stabbed on Thursday, as well the manager of the Children’s Place Nursery and Montessori and representatives of the Dublin business community.