Second fire at Coolock and officers injured in disorder
It is the second night in a row that the Dublin Fire Brigade has attended a fire at the site
- Published
Firefighters in Dublin brought a "small fire" under control at a site in Coolock that was being renovated to accommodate asylum seekers.
Friday was the second night in a row that the former Crown Paints factory on the Malahide Road in the city was on fire.
Riot police were deployed and An Garda Síochána (Irish police) said officers were "subjected to both verbal and physical abuse including rocks, concrete bricks and other objects being thrown at them."
As this intensified, gardaí said they were "required to use force to defend themselves while continuing to adopt a graduated approach to policing, with enforcement as a last resort."
They used incapacitant spray and ASP batons.
Three officers were injured and one was taken to hospital for treatment for facial injuries - all three are recovering and receiving welfare support from An Garda Síochána.
One man in his 20s was arrested on Friday but was released without charge on Saturday.
Online 'misinformation'
An Garda Síochána said it was aware of a "significant degree of disinformation and inaccuracy in circulation regarding events at this location".
The force asked that people "independently verify any of this information shared online via social media and/or through messaging apps."
Earlier on Friday there was a protest outside the building over its proposed use for asylum seekers.
RTÉ has reported that it was attended by more than 1,000 people, external and gardaí said it passed off peacefully.
A section of the Malahide Road was closed but has now reopened.
On Thursday the Dublin Fire Brigade brought a fire at the site under control.
It is understood the blaze is being treated as arson.
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What has been happening at Coolock?
The site at Coolock in North Dublin was being renovated to become accommodation for asylum seekers.
Work had been due to begin on the Malahide Road site during the week.
On Monday protestors gathered at the site after machinery and pallets were set alight causing a large fire.
More than 200 gardaí were deployed.
Three Garda cars were damaged, one of which was set on fire.
It said pepper spray was used by police as a security guard and a number of gardaí were injured during clashes with protesters.
Petrol bombs and fireworks were thrown, mattresses were set on fire damaging a JCB and fires were lit on the roads during the disturbances.
Gardaí described the disturbances as a public order incident and the road was closed for a period.
Twenty-one people were arrested and charged, 15 of whom appeared in court on Monday and six on Tuesday afternoon.