Three arrested for offences during anti-immigration protest and counter demo in Dublin

Sarah Slater

Tens of thousands attended an anti-immigration protest on Saturday afternoon, which began at the Garden of Remembrance on Parnell Square.

At the same time, a counter demonstration organised by the group United Against Racism was held outside the GPO.

Garda headquarters based in the Phoenix Park confirmed that An Garda Síochána ‘policed a number of public gatherings in Dublin city centre on Saturday.’

There was a significant garda presence along O’Connell Street and Luas services were disrupted for several hours.

Gardaí have confirmed that three people were arrested for public order offences and added that "no further information on these arrests is available. No major incidents of note occurred,” a garda spokesperson said.

In a video filmed in the Garden of Remembrance before the protest, MMA fighter Conor McGregor told those leading the march to ‘be calm, be clear, speak with dignity.’

McGregor, who is appealing the verdict reached by a civil jury last November which found that he sexually assaulted Nikita Hand in the Beacon Hotel in 2018 and awarded her almost €250,000 in damages, has recently signalled his intention to run in the Irish presidential election.

He claimed it was a protest against ‘the failure of the Irish government and our full disapproval of it.’

Dublin City councillors Gavin Pepper, Philip Sutcliffe and Malachy Steenson and Fingal councillor Patrick Quinlan gave speeches alongside a number of anti-immigration activists who were present.

Thousands of protestors made their way down to O'Connell Street, with many carrying tricolour flags and a number carrying Make Ireland Great Again placards.

Signs with slogans including Irish lives matter, Coolock Says No, and Ireland is Full could also be seen.

Shouts and chants heard during the protest included, 'Get them out’, and ‘Ireland for the Irish’.

Both the protest and counter demonstration also chanted: ‘Whose streets? Our streets.’