Approximately 250 anti-immigration protestors gathered on Malahide Road, as the Garda Public Order Unit was deployed for a second night in Coolock.
A man local to the area spoke to The University Times on the condition of anonymity. While repeating assurances that he was not racist, he expressed sympathy with those who torched the centre.
“The people of Coolock are being expected to take these migrants in, when we ourselves have nothing. The government has neglected our community for years. Many people here have no education or hope of a better life. Coolock isn’t the sort of place anyone chooses to live”.
Coolock is one of many suburban communities that have been neglected due to decades of austerity policies. The Health Atlas Ireland Index identifies from 2022 Census data that 53% of Coolock residents are classed as disadvantaged, very disadvantaged, or extremely disadvantaged, compared to a 21% national average.
The Coolock local also reiterated far-right talking points such as “These immigrants are all violent military-aged men”, and “They [the immigrants] are to blame for the housing crisis and cost of living crisis”.
Politicians have condemned the violence that has taken place in the area, with Minister for Justice Helen McEntee saying on X (formerly Twitter) that she is “appalled at the criminal behaviour that took place in Coolock”. Taoiseach Simon Harris told RTÉ that “no amount of community engagement is required to tell someone to not to throw a brick, not to throw a digger on fire, and not to put the men and women of An Garda Síohcana in danger”.
21 protestors have been arrested at the Coolock for public order offences, including the far-right “citizen journalist” Philip Dwyer.
The Garda Press Office are currently in the process of harvesting and collating CCTV footage and social media posts from the events of Monday. The Garda Press Office are appealing to witnesses for any information on the organisers of the protests, as well as for anyone with footage of Malahide Road on Monday.
