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LAST UPDATE | 22 Oct 2025
A TOTAL OF 23 people have been arrested by gardaí this evening following another night of violent disruptions near the Citywest complex in West Dublin.
Two gardaí were hospitalised after sustaining injuries during the course of the riots today – one was struck on the head by a bottle, while the other sustained an injury to their arm and shoulder.
Gardaí were once again pelted with missiles while standing guard outside the hotel, which is housing refugees and asylum seekers in west Dublin.
A crowd of people gathered near Citywest, where more than 300 gardaí set up a cordon blocking the road that leads to the complex.
Some members of the crowd, mostly young men with their faces covered, launched fireworks and threw rocks at the gardaí, while at least one person attempted to intervene and told them to stop.
A mounted Garda unit and dog unit were on the scene while the Garda helicopter hovered overhead.
The cordon was made up of uniformed gardaí, but they were later replaced by public order unit colleagues at a junction near the Saggart Luas stop.
Many of the people throwing things at gardaí came prepared.
Some brought bags of wine bottles while others had hidden them in hedges.
The public order unit gardaí charged the crowd when those bottles were about to be thrown.
This is the situation in Saggart at the moment. Public Order Unit Gardaí have moved in after a number of missiles were thrown towards the lines of soft cap uniformed members. @thejournal_ie pic.twitter.com/c8WfXsfcua
— Niall O’Connor (@NiallJournal_ie) October 22, 2025
In a statement this evening, Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan said that “many arrests have been made” and “many more will follow”.
“Members of An Garda Síochána have again bravely and professionally responded to thuggish violence at Citywest tonight,” O’Callaghan said.
He added that those arrested in connection with the riotous behaviour “will be charged, named and dealt with relentlessly by our criminal justice system.”
The former Citywest Hotel was purchased by the state for use as an Ipas centre earlier this year. There are around 1,200 Ukrainians in the centre currently, and approximately 460 international protection applicants, O’Callaghan confirmed earlier.
A garda spokesperson said that the public disorder “was predominantly carried out by young adult males and teenagers.”
Tonight’s confrontation comes after what was billed as a protest responding to the alleged sexual assault of a young girl in the area quickly turned violent last night, leading to more than two hours of sustained attacks on gardaí.
A large metal fence was erected at the scene in anticipation of more violence tonight.
Gardaí now people back down the road away from the road leading to Saggart.
— Niall O’Connor (@NiallJournal_ie) October 22, 2025
Masked young men mostly flinging bottles and other missiles.
Gardaí moving gradually down the road by Saggart Luas stop. pic.twitter.com/GiApd4Xu3Q
Luas and Dublin Bus suspended services between Belgard and Saggart in Dublin for the second night in a row ahead of the planned protest.
A spokesperson for the Luas said there are currently no Red Line services operating between the two stops, with services operating only between Tallaght/Belgard and Connolly.
The spokesperson confirmed the suspension of services applies to all public transport in the area.
Large crowds gathered outside the Ipas centre last night after a young girl in Tusla care was allegedly sexually assaulted at nearby Garter Lane.
A 26-year-old man has since been charged with sexual assault and is currently before the courts.
Last night’s demonstration dissolved into violence with clashes between gardaí and protesters. Six people were arrested in connection with last night’s disorder, five of whom have been charged and appeared in court today.
A garda van was also set on fire while fireworks were shot and bottles, bricks and other projectiles were launched at the Garda line.
An investigation into the two nights of public disorder is ongoing, a garda spokesperson said.
They added that the investigation is coordinated from an incident room at Clondalkin Garda Station.
“Further updates will issue tomorrow,” the spokesperson added.
With reporting from Emma Hickey and Andrew Walsh
Need more clarity and context on how migration is being discussed in Ireland? Check out our FactCheck Knowledge Bank for essential reads and guides to finding good information online.
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