Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has condemned the violent scenes at a makeshift camp in Dublin city centre where international protection applicants are sleeping in tents.
A number of homeless refugees had set up camp on a small cul-de-sac off Upper Sandwith Street in the south inner city. Footage shared on social media showed anti-migrant protesters gathering at the camp on Thursday and Friday anc clashing with those who turned up to voice their support for refugees.
Videos of several men dissembling the makeshift shelter on Friday evening has been shared widely online, with wooden materials and pallets set alight near the camp.
Read more: Man charged with public order offence after asylum camp set alight in Dublin city centre
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has condemned the violence "unreservedly" as he described the protests as "malign opportunism."
“I condemn this violence unreservedly. It is malign opportunism. A tiny minority of people are clearly determined to make capital out of a difficult situation. The gardaí are carrying out an investigation. We cannot tolerate actions such as this," Mr Varadkar told the Irish Independent.
Minister for Justice Simon Harris also spoke out against the attack on the camp.
“Utterly appalling & unacceptable scenes in Sandwith Street last night," Mr Harris tweeted. "Everyone in this country has a right to be safe. The right to protest is never a right to endanger or intimidate.”
Sinn Fein TD Eoin O Broin has also condemned the scene at the makeshift camp, tweeting: "What happened last night in Sandwith Street is an outrage. This is racism pure & simple. Burning the tents of homeless people who have come to Ireland seeking international protection. This is not who we are as a people. We are better than this."
Local TD Chris Andrews called the violence "completely unacceptable".
"The bottom line is that this is a result of neglect of the inner city and working class communities," he told Dublin Live. "The buildings beside it are St. Andrews Court flats that were earmarked for regeneration 5 years ago.
"I was at a meeting almost 5 years ago with residents and DCC who said they would redevelop this site and increase the social housing available to residents yet nothing has happened and now the Government and the Council have left this site become almost like skid row. The Government need to show a sense of urgency around the redevelopment of these public homes."
Gardaí said that one man, aged in his 30s, was arrested following the protests under the Public Order Act. The man is due appear before Dublin District Court later this month.
Gardaí attended following reports of a protest / demonstration involving two groups of people in the Sandwith Street area of Dublin 2,” a garda spokesperson said.
“Gardaí engaged with those present and one male (30s) was later arrested under the Public Order Act.
“He has since been charged to appear before Dublin District Court later this month.
As the groups involved dispersed some furniture and wooden pallets were set alight in a nearby lane way. No one was injured."
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