Actions of far-right and gardaí raised by public in Coolock

Michael Bolton

The actions of members of the far-right and safety of gardaí were raised by the public after violent disorder in Coolock in July.

Documents, seen by BreakingNews.ie, saw a number of concerns were raised by the public to the Department of Justice in the days that followed, with 41 correspondence since July 8th.

Protests turned violent over plans to accommodate international protection applicants at the site of the former Crown Paints factory.

Fireworks were aimed at lines of Public Order Unit gardaí, while glass bottles and rocks were also thrown.

Over a dozen people were arrested and were subsequently charged with public order offences.

In correspondence to Minister for Justice Helen McEntee, one person said: "Few TDs are as aware as you are of the rise of the traitorous far right in this country. Their violence and thuggery, as well as their ideology, are the antithesis of Irish patriotism and Irish nationalism.

"I have friends who have been victims of minor assaults at the hands of the far right on account of their faith or their race. The scenes in Coolock recently add to a mile-long list of incidents driven by racist hatred, a betrayal of our ancestors who fought against occupation, who fled the genocide lumped onto us by England as refugees to Britain and America.

"They also went on to criticise the gardaí's response to these people, as they said: Given the threats, intimidation, and in some instances violence directed towards yourself, Paul Murphy, Roderic O'Gorman, Michael Healy Rae, and other TDs from across the political spectrum, why aren't the guards doing more to combat this?"

The Garda response in Coolock was a common theme to Ms McEntee, as Drew Harris received criticism.

"We've just had a weekend that happens every single year when British people in Éire burn the Irish flag and holding signs saying "kill all Irish" or 'K.A.T, Kill All Taigs' and Irish people attacked in the North.

"Then we have a British head of An Garda Síochána come out and speak against the Irish people in Coolock, yet he said nothing or condemned the actions of his own people in the north that attacked Irish culture and history and people. Can you not see the irony?"

Protection for gardaí during disorder in Coolock was also raised, with a number of gardaí injured during incidents in Coolock in July.

"The silence is deafening when you consider the lack of response from politicians to actually back up the gardaí in their work while dealing with protests and their work in general.

"We only seem to hear calls for changes in the law when politicians lives, families homes or place of work are threatened by thugs in the name of a protest. Gardaí get these threats every day.

"The gardaí are being sent out to protests, domestic violence, anti-social activity while they are inadequately protected in their resources, they are lambs to the slaughter.

"It appears you can say what you want and do what you want to intimidate, assault, injure and possibly kill gardaí and politicians just look for more protection in respect of themselves and their families."

Some people also felt gardaí were too aggressive in their response, as one person emailed Ms McEntee the link to a YouTube video, with the message: "THIS IS ILLEGAL. POLICE BRUTALITY. YOU ARE A DISGRACE."

Another person also said: "Absolutely terrible let them in getting free everything [sic] what about our own unbelievable what happened yesterday in Coolock I have never seen anything like it. A old person got pepper spray a man of 78 years old."

As suspects from the violence in Coolock were charged and appeared in court, the issue of legal aid was brought up.

One person took issue with the number of people charged who were also receiving State benefits.

"I have just read reports in relation to those involved in Criminal Behaviour at Coolock yesterday. A number of those who appeared in Court are receiving State benefits.

"Surely this is completely unacceptable. I also note that they are receiving free legal aid. All this at the expense of the taxpayer. There is also a question over damages. I would suggest that those involved should not receive State payments.

"If they have time for this behaviour, they should be working."

The location of the proposed centre for those seeking international protection was also brought into question, as someone said to the Justice Minister: "First, why was an IPAS Centre located in an extremely disadvantaged community?

"Second, why did Minster Roderic O'Gorman flagrantly disregard the state's legal obligation under SI‐230 of designation IPAS Centres without carrying out a risk assessment regarding public order and public interest requirements?"