Garda Commissioner visits scene of ‘attack on gardaí’ at Wicklow asylum seeker housing site: ‘Very unacceptable scenes’

He visited the scene in Newtownmountkennedy, Co Wicklow this morning, where three garda cars were damaged and gardaí were attacked with stones.

Gardaí maintained a presence at the scene overnight and remain on site this morning, with no further significant incidents reported overnight.

"There were very unacceptable scenes seen here in terms of a protest, which then turned to violence,” Commissioner Harris said following his visit to Newtownmountkennedy.

"We’ve seen an attempt to burn a small outhouse type premises, but also then disgracefully attacks on members of An Garda Síochána who were attacked with stones and indeed vehicles have been damaged, and one vehicle, the vehicle behind me, was damaged with an axe.”

Commissioner Harris said both the front window and the rear window of a patrol car had been “smashed with an axe, not a hatchet, a full size axe” and tyres of a Public Order vehicle were “slashed.”

"Beyond that, there was there were attempts to injure members of An Garda Síochána. Rubble and stones were thrown from fields and members had to deploy in protective public order equipment and shields to make sure that they could protect themselves from the assaults upon them.”

Three men and one woman have since been charged in relation to the incident at the site and will appear before the District Court later today.

One man has been charged with alleged offences contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 and the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1997, and released to appear before court at a later date.

One male juvenile has been released without charge and a referral will be prepared for the Youth Diversion Project in accordance with the Children Act 2001.

Responding to the scenes in Wicklow, Justice Minister Helen McEntee has said that any attack on a member of the gardaí is “an attack on our democracy and our state”

"Any attack on a member of an Garda Siochana is an attack on our democracy and our state,” Ms McEntee said in a post shared to X.

"Gardaí have my full support in their work and while peaceful protest is a right we all value, we will not tolerate vandalism and attacks on gardaí.”

Taoiseach Simon Harris has also condemned what happened in Newtownmountkennedy last night.

Mr Harris told RTÉ News that gardaí are “charged with upholding the laws of the land and they should be supported in doing so”.

"This is a country of laws. Attacks on gardaí should be condemned by all.”

Six arrests were made in total by gardaí responding to the public order incident yesterday.

The Department of Integration has also condemned the incident and confirmed it intends to use the vacant property to house asylum seekers.

"The Department intends to use the vacant property at Trudder House to help alleviate the serious accommodation shortage currently faced by International Protection applicants,” said the Department.

“The Department strongly condemns any alleged attempts to drive division and hostility towards those who come to Ireland seeking asylum. Acts such as these achieve nothing but endanger people's lives and homes.

“A Community Engagement Team (CET) has been established to engage directly with elected representatives, relevant Local Authorities, Local Development Companies, and other entities and individuals. The CET has engaged with public representatives in Wicklow,” it added.

Gardaí came under attack from rocks and missiles, while an axe was also recovered at the scene. Three garda cars were damaged, including several broken windows and tyres being slashed, during the incident.

The garda public order unit was deployed and videos from the scene showed people attempting to breach the grounds, which have been sealed off, as a large fire burned at the entrance of the property. It is not clear if any damage has been caused to the property.

Gardaí also “used force to defend themselves as part of an escalated response,” a garda spokesperson said.

Last night, a garda spokesperson said gardaí on duty outside a premises in Newtownmountkennedy “came under attack by persons gathered at the location”.

“This incident has developed as a result of workers, contracted to carry out lawful employment on the site, entering the site. A number of trespassers were also identified on and removed from the site last night.

“Uniform Gardaí have been subject of both verbal and physical abuse throughout the day, which escalated into rocks and other missiles being thrown this evening. Fires have been lit and an axe has been recovered by Gardaí during this evening’s incident,” the spokesperson said.

Six people were arrested for alleged offences under the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994 and are currently detained at Garda stations in Wicklow.

“An Garda Síochána is not aware, at this time, of any persons injured during this incident,” the spokesperson said.

“As the situation has intensified, members of An Garda Síochána used force to defend themselves as part of an escalated response to the situation. Assistance was provided by members of An Garda Síochána Public Order Unit and approximately 50 members of An Garda Síochána remain at the scene this evening. The use of force included the use of Incapacitant spray and deployment of Public Order Gardaí in Public Order helmets and shields.

"Persons gathered at the entrance of the site have been moved away from the entrance but remain gathered in the area.

“An Garda Síochána respects the right for citizens to exercise their constitutional rights; this right does not extend to breaches of Criminal Law, the interference with the rights of other citizens to carry out their daily activities, or to attack members of An Garda Síochána.

“Any Garda activity in relation to evolving events involves a graduated policing response taking into account relevant legislation and public safety, with enforcement as a last resort. An Garda Síochána is also aware of misinformation and disinformation being spread in relation to this ongoing incident,” the spokesperson said.

Round the clock protests have been staged outside the River Lodge site in recent weeks since news broke locally that it may be used to house asylum seekers. A small-scale fire also broke out at the site last week.

Videos taken at the scene today, and widely shared online, showed a large garda presence and people clashing with officers sporadically.

Masked men could be seen attempting to tear down fencing at the property as gardaí were positioned inside.

A fire was also lit at the entrance to the property and flames could be seen burning close to a structure on the property.