Coolock: Another fire breaks out at factory as anti-immigrant protestors gather

Another fire has broken out at a factory in Coolock earmarked for asylum seekers. Shortly after 7pm tonight, flames and smoke were seen billowing from the old Crown Paints factory on the Malahide Road.

This came just minutes after "peaceful protestors" who claim they were pepper-sprayed by gardaí during Monday’s Coolock riots demanded an apology from An Garda Síochána.

At 6pm tonight, up to 1,000 anti-immigrant protestors gathered at the factory for what was supposed to be a "peaceful protest" following days of unrest. The building was being renovated to accommodate 500 International Protection Applicants.

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On Monday, violence erupted at the site when fireworks and bricks were thrown by thugs and a JCB digger was torched. Things escalated further on Thursday night when emergency services were alerted to a fire that broke out at the site.

Crowds at tonight's protest heard from people who claim they were pepper sprayed by gardaí on Monday, while others were critical of Garda Commissioner Drew Harris. Protestors marched down the road holding signs saying "Irish lives matter'' and "communities say no to authoritarian rule".

After gathering at the old Crown Paints factory, protestors walked to Coolock Garda Station. They handed a letter to the station demanding an apology "for unprovoked violence on peaceful protestors".

An Garda Siochana and Dublin Fire Brigade at the site of the Former Crown Paints factory in Coolock as part of the building goes on fire for a second night
(Image: Stephen Collins/Collins Photos)

Dublin City Councillor Malachy Steenson read the letter to the crowd. He said: "I am a neighbour of the Crown Paints factory for over 20 years. I have been peacefully protesting for over 120 days. During my days of protesting we have never had an ounce of trouble, we kept the ground clean and respected all people passing by.

"It was a total utter shock how you, the Garda of Coolock, attacked us. I have always had huge respect for the Garda officers of Coolock, it was totally unprofessional and unacceptable.

"It was disgraceful how men, women and children were treated and attacked by you the Garda of Coolock who are here to protect us not attack us. As we are aware there was an element of unwanted attention that turned up on Monday, why did you, the Garda of Coolock, turn on us peaceful protestors?

"It has been over 72hrs and still not an apology from Coolock Garda station for the unprovoked violence against our Coolock community."

Following the scenes of disorder on Monday, 15 people appeared in court and were charged with a range of public order offences. On the day, almost 200 gardaí were deployed to the scene to deal with the riots.

An Garda Siochana and Dublin Fire Brigade at the site of the Former Crown Paints factory in Coolock as part of the building goes on fire for a second night
(Image: Stephen Collins/Collins Photos)

Taoiseach Simon Harris has warned that anyone who engages in "thuggery" at these protests will "face the full rigour of the law".

Speaking today, he said: "I would always support the rights that people have to protest, but I have to say what we've seen in recent days has not been that, what we have seen in recent days has been an attempt by a relatively small number of people to engage in lawlessness, to engage in thuggery and to engage in criminal activity.

"I have a very clear understanding of the difference between protest and lawlessness, between protest and criminality.

"What I would say to everybody in this country, it's very important everybody does too, because if you engage in protest, you will be fully protected by the law, if you engage in lawlessness, if you cross the line and you engage in thuggery, you will meet the full rigours of the law."

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