Gardaí: Violence at protest in Wicklow driven by far-right agitators

Garda sources said locals in Newtownmountkennedy had been “protesting peacefully” for weeks at the Trudder House site over concerns they had about plans to house asylum seekers in the building.

Officers said there had been “good engagement” with them but that they became annoyed after contractors were brought into Trudder House overnight on Wednesday.

Sources said calls for more bodies for the protest went out and that “unsavoury far-right elements” came down from Dublin. Some of them had visited the protest before.

“All the agitation was done by outsiders from Dublin, increasing the aggression,” a Garda source said. “They [the agitators] were looking for a confrontation.” 

The uniformed gardaí present called in the public order unit, which was on standby, as is standard when a previous threat assessment has recommended their presence in case they were needed.

“Protesters started firing rocks at members, smashed up a patrol car with an axe, and slashed the tyres of a van,” the source said. 

“Gardaí had no choice [but to deploy the public order unit] when they started lighting fires.” 

Gardaí suspect there was some degree of orchestration to the violence. Voices captured on video footage taken by protesters guided people who were in nearby fields throwing rocks and other missiles at gardaí, telling them where to direct them.

Other sources said that experienced far-right agitators knew when to rile protesters but that when gardaí moved in, they pulled back and let local protestors take the hit.

A number of high-profile figures on the far-right, including those who are candidates in the upcoming local and European elections, praised the protesters online and condemned the actions of the gardaí.

Some protesters accused the gardaí of being “heavy handed”, but this was rejected by Garda Commissioner Drew Harris, who visited the scene this morning.

He said the Garda response was only escalated when missiles were thrown at them and added that the violence was “unacceptable”.

Liam Herrick, executive director of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties said: "Assaults on gardaí and arson are serious crimes, and the right to peaceful protest never permits or protects serious violence of this type.

It is likely that those who organised and carried out the violence and arson at this event are a small number, and it is significant that the Garda Commissioner has previously referred to similar small extremist groups as presenting a threat to national security.

He said they were concerned that the intention behind the serious violence was also to “intimidate migrants and members of minority communities”.

Meanwhile, the Department of Justice has indicated there is no need to introduce specific laws to outlaw the wearing of balaclavas and masks by people at protests.

This follows statements in the Dáil on Wednesday from Taoiseach Simon Harris when he said he had asked Justice Minister Helen McEntee to examine the issue.

He said: “Is that [wearing balaclavas and masks] legal now? If it is, let us fix it and change the law. If it is not legal, why is it not being stopped? I have asked the minister of justice to come back to me on that.” 

The Taoiseach’s comments followed a protest outside the home of Children’s Minister Roderic O’Gorman by up to 12 mainly masked individuals, mostly male, where large banners displaying far-right slogans and personal slurs were draped on the gate and walls of the house.

Following questions sent by the Irish Examiner, asking what examination was taking place on foot of the Taoiseach’s comments, the Department of Justice said all criminal legislation was “kept under review” in consultation with An Garda Síochána.

It said the right to protest peacefully was enshrined in the Constitution and gardaí had to balance this right with everyone’s human rights, as well as public order.

The statement said there are existing provisions under the Public Order Act which cover failure to comply with a Garda direction, and trespassing. 

While enforcement of the law is an operational matter for the Garda Commissioner, he has advised Minister McEntee that he recently issued guidance to Garda management to the effect that where incidents cross the line from protest to harassment or intimidation, they are fully investigated and prosecutions are pursued, where appropriate.

Commissioner Harris told the Policing Authority on Thursday that gardaí were currently “well armed” in terms of legislation, but said he has asked for a review of powers in other countries.

Garda sources have told the Irish Examiner  that while there are laws covering intimidation, harassment, trespass, and complying with Garda directions, there is no specific power regarding wearing balaclavas and masks at protests — laws that are being introduced in the UK.