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Citywest
Video and photos show how violence escalated as gardaí came under attack for second night
24 people were arrested near Citywest after fireworks, bottles and masonry were thrown at officers.
GARDAÍ CAME UNDER attack for the second night in a row last night as violence erupted again outside the Citywest complex in west Dublin.
Two gardaí have been hospitalised after they were injured during the disorder, which began on Tuesday after a man appeared in court charged with the alleged sexual assault of a young girl near the Citywest Hotel.
Some 24 people were arrested, in addition to the six who were arrested after the rioting on Tuesday night.
Five men have already appeared before the courts, while a further 17 people were charged this morning.
While the rioting on Tuesday began after callouts for a public assembly at the complex were shared on social media in advance, the crowd that gathered last night was less organised and smaller in number.
Further violent demonstrations in the area had been anticipated.
Luas and Dublin Bus services between Belgard and Saggart in Dublin were suspended for the second night in a row.
From around 7pm, those gathered began to face off with around 40 uniformed gardaí who had formed a cordon. They directed those gathered to leave the area at around 7.30pm, but this was ignored.
The majority of the crowd was made up of men and teenage boys with their faces covered, but women and children were also present.
Some carried tricolours and shouted verbal abuse at the gardaí.
Rocks and bottles began to be thrown in the direction of the officers at around 8pm. Half an hour later, the uniformed gardaí were replaced by the Public Order Unit in full riot gear near the Saggart Luas stop.
Some of those gathered also used steel barriers in an attempt to block garda vehicles from entering the area.
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
When the Public Order Unit attempted to push the crowd back from the Citywest complex, the violence escalated.
Rocks, bottles and fireworks were launched at gardaí.
Many people came prepared, with some bringing bags of wine bottles while others had hidden them in hedges.
One person attempted to intervene by asking the group to be peaceful, but they were ignored.
The Mounted Unit, Dog Unit and Air Support Unit were also deployed to the scene. Pepper spray was used to try to keep the crowd back.
The water cannon was on standby, but it was not used.
As the evening progressed, hundreds of protesters were pushed back along Citywest Drive.
Shouts of “hold the line” and “get in front” could be heard from some of the young males gathered, encouraging the others to push back against the gardaí.
Volley of fireworks fired at Gardaí in Saggart.
— Niall O’Connor (@NiallJournal_ie) October 22, 2025
Lots of young masked kids here.
Chants of “get them out”.
A woman stepped forward and told the groups of children to be peaceful. The fireworks came then.
Public Order Unit still blocking the road to the hotel. @thejournal_ie pic.twitter.com/s0LrZOWVNR
Gardaí continued to come under fire from masonry, flares, fireworks, bottles and other debris.
One garda was hit in the head by a bottle, while another sustained an injury to their arm and shoulder. Both were taken to hospital for treatment.
While large parts of the crowd dispersed throughout the night, an additional Public Order Unit was deployed behind those who were still gathered shortly after 10pm.
Several of those caught between the two units were tackled and detained as they tried to flee.
Over the course of the evening, more than 300 gardaí were on duty, including 150 uniform members and 120 public order members.
Gardaí said the public disorder “was predominantly carried out by young adult males and teenagers”.
The situation had been largely calmed by 11pm.
A total of 24 people were arrested. Of those, 17 adults have been charged with public order offences and are due to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice this morning.
Five male juveniles who were arrested last night have been released and will be dealt with under the Youth Diversion Programme.
Two other adult males arrested were released without charge, with files being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Gardaí said a policing and security operation remains in place at Citywest.
I want to condemn again the shocking rioting in Dublin and the attacks on An Garda Síochána.
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) October 23, 2025
Our Gardaí protect communities with professionalism and courage.
There will be a robust response from the justice system - this behaviour will not be tolerated. pic.twitter.com/a9REXx5s2I
The Taoiseach, speaking at an EU summit in Brussels, said such violence against gardaí would not be tolerated and that his thoughts were with the members who had been injured.
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