One Garda was injured after a night of “complete anarchy” outside the Citywest Hotel in Saggart, County Dublin. 

The hotel, which is used by the State to house asylum seekers, was targeted by hundreds of furious protestors, some of whom wore masks and hurled bricks at Gardaí protecting the building. 

On Newstalk Breakfast, Chief Reporter Barry Whyte described it as a night of “chaos” and “mayhem”. 

 “It was complete anarchy on the streets of Dublin last night, outside the IPAS accommodation centre in Citywest that accommodates thousands of asylum seekers,” he said. 

“At one point a Garda van was set alight - it went up in flames. 

“Bricks and bottles were thrown by hooded protestors and masked men. 

“Fireworks were being constantly launched at Garda members; Garda traffic cones were thrown, wheelie bins were set on fire.” 

A Garda van burns outside the Citywest Hotel. Picture by: RollingNews.ie.

At one point, teenagers on horseback turned up in balaclavas, while the nearby Saggart Luas stop was vandalised. 

In total, 300 members of An Garda Síochána were deployed to the area, including 150 members of the Public Order Unit. 

“Eventually the crowd - which reached well over 1,000 people at one point - was dispersed and calm was restored after around three hours after half past 10,” Mr Whyte said. 

“What we know at this stage is one female Garda needed medical treatment after she injured her foot.” 

A Garda van burns outside the Citywest Hotel. Picture by: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie.

Six people were arrested for public order offences and Mr Whyte added that it was a “miracle” that only one person was injured. 

The protest was organised after news broke that an alleged assault of a child in Tusla care had taken place close to Citywest. 

One man in his 20s was charged and appeared before Blanchardstown District Court on Tuesday morning.

“It was obvious that many people who had already arrived were not there to just peacefully protest,” Mr Whyte said. 

“They were there to cause trouble and before seven o’clock, crowds were gathering and moving towards a Garda barricade that had formed at the entrance of the hotel.” 

A Garda van burns outside the Citywest Hotel. Picture by: RollingNews.ie.

Some protestors arrived waving tricolours and shouted, ‘Get them out’ and “Burn the hotel”, while hurling verbal abuse at Gardaí. 

In a statement to the press, Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly rejected the premise that the event was a peaceful protest. 

"The actions this evening can only be described as thuggery. This was a mob intent on violence against Gardaí,” he said. 

“I utterly condemn the attacks on Gardaí who did their jobs professionally and with great courage to keep people safe.” 

Commissioner Kelly vowed that those responsible would be held responsible for their actions.