Protesters in Dublin Clash with Police Over Assault Accusation

Protesters in Dublin, Ireland, set a police car on fire and clashed with officers outside a migrant shelter following an alleged sexual assault on a 10-year-old Irish girl by an illegal migrant. The violence occurred at the City West Hotel, which now serves as a migrant center where the suspect, facing deportation orders, is accused of the assault.

Irish police, An Garda Síochána, reported six arrests during the clashes, with one female officer sustaining a foot injury. Nearly 300 officers were deployed to the scene in Saggart to contain the situation as protesters threw glass bottles, bricks, and fireworks at them. Some protesters waved Irish flags and chanted for the removal of the 2,000 migrants housed at the shelter.

The protesters' actions included targeting a police helicopter with lasers, attempting to breach police lines on horseback, and engaging in violent behavior. Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly condemned the violence as "thuggery" and an intent to harm law enforcement officers.

Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin denounced the attacks on police and expressed concern over the lack of protection for the girl involved in the alleged assault. The victim, under the care of child protection services, had left staff supervision during a planned outing in the city center, leading to contact with the suspect.

The suspect, a man in his 20s from Africa, arrived in Ireland six years ago and had been denied international protection in 2024, with a deportation order issued in March. The incident took place at Citywest, a former hotel converted into a migrant facility, which the Irish government purchased for approximately $150 million in September.

Tensions surrounding mass immigration have been heightened since a series of violent incidents in recent years, including the stabbing of three children by an Algerian-born suspect in 2023 and the murder of a Ukrainian asylum seeker in 2025. As Ireland prepares for a presidential election, concerns over immigration policies and their impact on public safety remain a significant issue.