A police van has been set alight and bottles have been thrown at journalists as protesters gathered outside a hotel used to house asylum seekers in Dublin.
It is the second night of demonstrations outside the hotel in the capital after an alleged sexual assault in its vicinity in the early hours of Monday morning.
A large crowd has gathered in the area and members of the Garda’s public order unit have been deployed.
Footage shows several of the protesters displaying Irish flags.
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The hotel being used as state accommodation for people seeking international protection.
Monday night’s demonstration passed without significant incident
DublinLive reports there are around 500 people gathered at the hotel this evening.
The Luas red line is not running between Belgard and Saggart due to the protest.
A Garda van was set alight
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Gardai officers block protesters outside the hotel
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Ireland’s Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan said there is “no excuse” for violent scenes in Dublin.
He said: "Unfortunately, the weaponising of a crime by people who wish to sow dissent in our society is not unexpected. The gardai are prepared for this, but attacking gardai 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 gardai 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."
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The police van was set alight
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Protesters wielding traffic cones and implements ran towards the blockade as a police helicopter flew overhead.
They were pushed back, and more fireworks and missiles were thrown.
At 9pm, another unit of gardaí arrived carrying riot shields to push the crowd north along Garter Lane and away from the entrance to the hotel.
The Irish Times reports two bins of glass bottles and some bricks were acquired by protesters, with the contents launched at gardaí.
Disturbances have flared outside the Dublin hotel used to house asylum seekers
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Onlookers watch a police vehicle burning in Dublin
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A riot shield was wrestled from a member of the gardaí.
Officers have been spraying those that charge towards them with tear gas or pepper spray, resulting in fewer attempts to break through their barrier.
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