Taoiseach, Minister for Justice and more condemn "unacceptable" violence at protest outside Citywest Hotel

Reactions have poured in following a violent protest last night outside of a hotel accommodating international protection applicants at Citywest.

Around 2,000 people attended the protest at the Citywest Hotel in Saggart, with protestors throwing projectiles at gardaí, setting a garda van on fire, targeting a Garda helicopter with lasers, vandalising the Saggart Luas stop and damaging local residents' private property.

Protestors were seen carrying tools and garden forks, and overturning bins in front of private homes to use their contents as projectiles. A number of homes in the area were without power after meter boxes were damaged by protestors who removed bricks to throw at gardaí.

At least one garda sustained injuries. Five men have appeared in court today on public order, breach of the peace and weapons offences.

The protest was instigated by online groups after a man was charged in court for the sexual assault of a young girl the day prior.

Gardaí reportedly had intelligence that violence was planned and prepared a policing operation ahead of time. Gardaí deployed pepper spray against protestors attempting to breach their cordon.

Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly described the disorder as "thuggery," adding while gardaí facilitate peaceful protest on daily basis, "this was obviously not a peaceful protest."

Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland today, Acting Deputy Garda Commissioner Paul Cleary said more arrests are to be expected.

"It was a violent riot driven by thugs intent on violence, and it wasn't just an attack on gardaí, it was an attack on community safety and we won't tolerate that," Cleary said.

"I want to reassure the public that we were able to contain that violent disorder last night, restore public order and we will be prepared for any future incidents of violence that might erupt."

Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Jim O'Callaghan issued a statement last night regarding the incident.

"The scenes of public disorder we have witnessed at Citywest tonight must be condemned," said O'Callaghan, adding violence towards Gardaí and destruction of property "is unacceptable and will result in a forceful response from the Gardaí. Those involved will be brought to justice."

"Unfortunately, the weaponising of a crime by people who wish to sow dissent in our society is not unexpected," O'Callaghan said.

"The Gardaí are prepared for this, but attacking Gardaí and property is not an answer, and won’t help to make anyone feel safe. It is clear to me from talking to colleagues during the day and this evening that this violence does not reflect the people of Saggart. They are not the people participating in this criminality, but rather the people sitting at home in fear of it.

"Attacks on Gardaí will not be tolerated. Peaceful protest is a cornerstone of our democracy. Violence is not. There is no excuse for the scenes we have witnessed tonight."

In a separate release, O'Callaghan said he has requested "a detailed account of the management of the asylum application process in this case"

Last night, Taoiseach Micheál Martin issued a statement condemning the violence and praising "the frontline gardaí who acted courageously and quickly to restore order."

"An Garda Síochána protect us all and have a proud tradition of service to the Irish people," Martin said.

"There can be no justification for the vile abuse against them, or the attempted assaults and attacks on members of the force that will shock all right-thinking people."

Martin also discussed the matter in the Dáil today, expressing concern that "innocent people were threatened in terms of their own safety and security and particularly, children."

He praised the gardaí "for their bravery, courage and professionalism in dealing with a very serious situation" and added, "Our criminal justice system needs to hold the people responsible to account."

I want to thank An Garda Síochána for their bravery, courage and professionalism in dealing with a very serious situation last evening.

Our criminal justice system needs to hold the people responsible to account. pic.twitter.com/42mx6VCPpi

— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) October 22, 2025

Tánaiste Simon Harris also released a statement, saying, "There is understandable shock and horror right across our country" over the sexual assault case.

"But there is no excuse for this type of violence and thuggery against the men and women who serve to protect us and victims of crime every day," Harris said.

Speaking during the final presidential debate last night — which occurred near the end of the protest — Independent candidate Catherine Connolly described scenes of violence as "deeply disturbing."

"I think it's time for leadership from politicians to use our voices to show leadership and to actually analyse what's happening here and stop conflating things," Connolly said.

"We have a young girl who's been sexually assaulted — and we won't go into any details in that case, just the reporting of it — and it is deeply upsetting that that has happened. Of course, our thoughts are with the girl and the family, that goes without saying."

She said a review is needed, as the girl was in state care at the time, and added "In relation to division, I think we need to be very careful in this country. We're a country of welcomes and I think different subjects have been conflated."

Her opponent, Fine Gael candidate Heather Humphreys, also condemned the violence as "absolutely awful" and urged protestors to go home, adding, "This is not who we are as a country".

This afternoon, People Before Profit released a statement on the matter, emphasising, "Last night’s violence at Citywest Hotel will do nothing for the young victim of sexual assault" and adding that the man in custody for the assault was not living in Citywest Hotel when he was arrested.

"People are absolutely right to be angry at the perpetrator and the state which failed this young girl so badly," the statement read.

"That justified anger is being abused by those who want to cause violence and spread hate and division against other vulnerable people in our community. The far right are disgustingly seeking to use this horrendous assault to whip up racism.

"The people living in Citywest Hotel are no more responsible for the actions of a former resident, than people in a housing estate are for the actions of one of their former neighbours. The children who live in the hotel must have been terrified last night, fearing what would happen if the crowd succeeded in breaking through."

Instead of "division and violence," People Before Profit encouraged the public to "stand together in our community against sexual assault and the repeated failures of children by Tusla and the state."

According to reporting from RTÉ, local residents who wished to remain anonymous decried the disorder and said they were afraid.

Kevin Shortall, principal of St Aidan's Community School in Tallaght, said many children were absent from school today with concerns about violence.

According to Shortall, there are five secondary schools and ten primary schools in the area attended by children who live in the Citywest Hotel.

"A lot of those children went home early yesterday evening because there were warnings about imminent danger," said Shortall to RTÉ's Today with Claire Byrne, adding many have not returned to school today.

"Some were moved out last night for safety concerns. Others came in and went home again. It's a terrible situation, a very, very worrying situation, especially for the schools and the families. No matter where you're from, you deserve respect and love and education. That's an Irish thing and I'm ashamed of anyone who made a child feel unsafe and scared to go to school.

"We're going to keep smiling and we're going to keep telling people that, no matter where they come from, whether you're here from Tallaght or whether you're from the other side of the world, that you're a human being with a beating heart and you're welcome here."

According to RTÉ, the Citywest Hotel houses 377 families with children, accounting for the majority of those living there. Around 6.5% of residents living in the hotel are International Protection Applicants while the remainder are Ukrainian Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection.

Tusla Child and Family Agency has introduced additional family support and counselling as well as opened a helpline for residents of the area with child protection concerns.

 

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At the time of writing, the main entrance to the Citywest Hotel is closed off and gardaí are carrying out a forensic examination of the site.