The formerly quiet area of Coolock, situated in Northern Dublin, saw upwards of 200 local police forces being dispatched this past Monday in response to escalating tensions. The site of a disused, previously paint producing factory, intended for housing international refugees, became littered with violent protests.
Skirmishes broke out consistently throughout the day between the local law enforcement and demonstrators, with shocking displays involving fireworks, “fast gas” canisters and glass projectiles launched at the Public Order Unit officers.
This regrettable situation seemed to be amplified by a toxic combination of miscommunication, genuine local objections, and radical right wing instigators, forming an intersection for disturbance which only seized its activities in the early hours of the subsequent Monday morning.
By the time Tuesday arrived, concrete barriers, measuring three metres high, were erected to restrict physical access to the abandoned site. This area had been designated by the Department of Integration to accommodate approximately 550 asylum applicants.
Numerous queries still remain in the wake of the Coolock incident, such as what exactly transpired, who initiated the spate of violence and whether the police deployed appropriate conflict management measures.
Furthermore, onlookers are now questioning how we, as a society, might combat the increasing tide of internet-fuelled false information inciting anti-foreigner protests and agitations.
The latter was explored in the “In The News” segment of the day, which discussed the escalation of events in Coolock from a peaceful protest to a full-blown street fight.
Adding to the concern, An Garda Síochána, the local police force, is now anticipating a complex and unpredictable security risk in the Northern Dublin region.
This account was reported by Sorcha Pollak and produced by Aideen Finnegan.