Justice Minister Helen McEntee has told Cabinet ministers further arrests in relation to riots in Dublin is “certain”.
Government Ministers met last night for a briefing on the riots in Dublin city centre on November 23rd and the stabbing outside a school in Parnell Square that led to the unrest.
Ms McEntee said Gardaí are trawling through 6,000 hours of CCTV footage and further arrests are certain, according to a Government spokesperson.
Dozens were arrested following riots on Thursday evening in wake of the stabbing that resulted in major damage in Dublin’s city centre, particularly on O’Connell Street.
A car burns on Parnell Street as rioters cause chaos in Dublin city centre, 23-11-2023. Image: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNewsGardaí are following a definite line of inquiry into the stabbing and are not looking for anyone else in connection with the stabbing incident, according to the Justice Minister.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar also told Cabinet he spoke with the Principal of Gaelscoil Coláiste Mhuire, the manager of the Children’s Place Nursery and Montessori, and representatives of the Dublin business community yesterday afternoon.
Response to Dublin riots
Cabinet also praised the "professionalism" of Gardaí and supported “the work of the Commissioner and the Gardaí in responding to this heinous violence”.
Some opposition party members have said they have “no confidence” in Garda Commissioner Drew Harris or Ms McEntee, with Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald saying yesterday "Gardaí lost control of the centre of our capital city".
Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast yesterday morning, Minister McEntee described yesterday’s events as “truly appalling” and defended her handling of the situation.
“They [Gardaí] were deployed early on in all of this,” she said.
“I don’t have an exact time.
A burned Luas carriage in Dublin city centre following riots, 24/11/2023. Image: Leon Farrell / © RollingNews.ieOn Thursday, three children and one teacher were injured in the stabbing, while the man who attacked the woman and children near the school were apprehended by members of the public.
One of the children, a five-year-old girl, remains in critical condition in hospital, and her teacher, a woman in her 30s, is also in a serious condition in hospital.
A six-year-old girl is also being treated for less serious injuries, while a five-year-old boy was discharged from CHI Crumlin yesterday evening.
