Dublin migrant protests: GB News reporter attacked by police during chaotic demonstrations - ‘Never EVER seen this’

"We have been attacked by police themselves," speaking to fellow GB News star Patrick Christys. "We did what we usually do.

"We get between the lines and then we let the police go past the lines."

"But the Gardai thought it'd be better to pepper-spray us and then actually smash into the camerawoman and then smash into the camera, knocking us to the ground."

"In all my time as a reporter, doing this in Northern Ireland, I have never ever seen this police attack the media. They have done that this evening, as well as another photographer."

Dougie recounted how the constable looked at him and made a "conscious" decision to attack.

"It has really kicked off in Dublin tonight," Dougie told Patrick.

"There's about 2,000 people here. There's a police vehicle that has been burned, a water cannon is out, and the TSG themselves are having a hard time putting it down."

Discussing the raging protests going on in the city, he continued: "The people of Ireland at this stage have said: 'No more, we want rid of the immigrants that are here.'

"On Friday, people of Ireland go to the polls to choose a new President. This is not a good look for them at this moment in time.

"Definitely not a good look if the police service of the Republic of Ireland decide to openly attack the media."

When Patrick pressed him further for details of the encounter with the police officer, who had been bearing a riot shield at the time of the alleged attack, Dougie said: "He pushed the camera clean into my face.

"That was only after his colleague managed to push the person who was using the camera in the first place into a metal fence."

Dougie added: "They identified us as the media and they continued to go on ahead. They pepper-sprayed us, and then attacked us, openly assaulted us in the street as we were trying to report on what was going on."

On the second night of protests in the city, a large crowd gathered in the Dublin area with members of the Garda’s public order unit deployed.

A police van has also been set alight and bottles have been thrown at journalists as protesters gathered outside a hotel used to house asylum seekers in Dublin.

Footage shows several of the protesters displaying Irish flags.

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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