There was ‘absolute mayhem’ in Dublin city centre tonight as rioters attacked Gardaí, set fires and looted stores.
Newstalk Chief Report Barry Whyte was in the city throughout the unrest and on a Newstalk special programme this evening, he described the carnage in the capital.
“It was just complete chaos – absolute mayhem,” he told Andrea Gilligan.
“I walked towards O’Connell Street and there was a Garda car on fire,” he said.
“I then took a left turn and on one side of the street, there was a bus on fire. Then, on the other side of the street, the Luas was on fire; there were two buses on fire.
“I saw people lifting tables at a smoking area of a hotel and putting these metal tables through the window of the hotel.
“They were firing bricks and bottles at Gardaí.
“Then I somehow got caught up in the middle of a Garda baton charge and I just I didn't know where to go.”
Gardaí in Dublin city centre as rioter set fire and cause massive public damage, 23-11-2023. Image: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews
A car burns on Parnell Street as rioters cause chaos in Dublin city centre, 23-11-2023. Image: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNewsThe unrest began after protesters gathered at the scene near Parnell Square where three young children were injured in a stabbing attack earlier today.
One of the children remains in a serious condition in hospital this evening, alongside a woman in her 30s.
The Garda commissioner Drew Harris warned that speculation over the attacker's identity and motive for the attack was 'unhelpful to the point of being malicious'.
He said this evening’s riots were caused by a “lunatic hooligan faction driven by far-right ideology”.
Dublin City Centre is currently mayhem.
Gardai and fire service being attacked by youths throwing bricks and bottles. Buses, trams and cars set on fire. People looting shops.
Law and order is gone #dublinriots
@NewstalkFM pic.twitter.com/CxSCxV4B5e— Barry Whyte (@BarryWhyte85) November 23, 2023
Barry said Gardaí told him the safest way out was to head towards Henry Street.
“Then, when I was walking down Henry Street - at Footlocker and JD Sports - there was just people smashing the windows of these shops and going in and looting.
“It was just crazy. Law and order was just completely gone.”
A bus burns just off O'Connell Street Bridge in Dublin, 23-11-2023. Image: Sam Boal/RollingNews.
The Garda Public Order Unit on O'Connell Street and Parnell Street in Dublin tonight, 23-11-2023. Image: Sam Boal/RollingNewsHe said violence reminded him of the riots in London a number of years ago.
“I've just never seen anything like this in Ireland and it was pretty scary to be in the middle of it,” he said.
“You know, at one stage I just felt like I was the only person on O'Connell Street who didn't have my face covered because I, kind of, unintentionally ended up in the middle of this.
“It was very scary.
“You know, one end of O’Connell Street was on fire, the other end was on fire and just every building seemed to be a target for these thugs – what else can you call them?
“They were just smashing everything they could get their hands on.
“They seemed to be just setting fire to anything they could and they were also just attacking Gardaí and attacking the fire service and I suppose, for what?
“Like, what is this going to achieve?”
A car burns on Parnell Street as rioters cause chaos in Dublin city centre, 23-11-2023. Image: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNewsBarry said Gardaí were out in force and charged at the rioters several times – but it didn’t seem to make much difference.
“You know, if you see Gardaí coming at you with batons, you would think people might disperse but when I was there, the crowds rioting and causing the violence were so big that it didn't really seem to matter what the Gardaí were doing,” he said.
“It was just crazy, as I say, I've never ever seen anything like it.”
He said he has “never been so glad to get out of Dublin” in his life
“There was one point, you're sitting here thinking, 'Right, I know I'm here to do a job and to report', but it got to the stage where I was just thinking, 'This isn't worth it. I really need to get out for my own safety.'”
The Garda Public Order Unit on O'Connell Street after rioters cause chaos in the capital, 23-11-2023. Image: Sam Boal/RollingNewsIn a statement this evening, President Michael D. Higgins slammed groups attempting to use the Parnell Square attack to push an “agenda that attacks the principle of social inclusion”.
“All of our thoughts are with each of the children and their families affected by today's horrific attack outside Gaelscoil Coláiste Mhuire in Dublin city centre,” he said.
“We are particularly thinking of the five-year-old girl and the member of staff caring for her who are both in serious condition in hospital. All of our prayers are with each of them for a full recovery.
“This appalling incident is a matter for the Gardaí and that it would be used or abused by groups with an agenda that attacks the principle of social inclusion is reprehensible and deserves condemnation by all those who believe in the rule of law and democracy.”
All Luas services have been suspended until tomorrow morning due to the protests.
Dublin Bus services have also been curtailed, with NBRU members being advised to pull all buses back to their garages.
Gardaí have said the stabbing attack on Parnell Square is believed to be 'a standalone incident' and not connected to any wider issues.
They have also ruled out terrorism.
