Dublin asylum hotel protest peaceful after two nights of disorder

About 100 people gathered at the entrance to the Citywest Hotel on Thursday, where a large police presence remains

A protest at a Dublin hotel used to house asylum seekers has passed off peacefully after two consecutive nights of disorder.

The violent scenes at the Citywest Hotel, including hours of sustained rioting on Tuesday, prompted Ireland's justice minister to warn that any repeat would be met with a "forceful response".

Tuesday's disorder broke out after an initially peaceful protest over the alleged sexual assault of a young girl in the vicinity in the early hours of Monday morning.

On Thursday, about 100 people gathered at the entrance for a protest before leaving at about 21:30 local time.

Gardaí (Irish police) are maintaining a heavy presence at the hotel.

Speaking earlier to Irish broadcaster RTÉ, Irish Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan said: "It'll have very serious consequences for people later in life if they find themselves before the courts charged with public order offences."

He added that people were "entitled to make a political point" as well as "to oppose government policy".

However, O'Callaghan said they are "not entitled to use violence and break the law".

What's been happening at the Citywest Hotel?

The disorder first broke out on Tuesday following a protest, which attracted about 2,000 people.

The hotel complex houses families, including school children, living under the Irish government's international protection programme for asylum seekers.

The serious rioting, which the police said was planned online, included stones and fireworks being thrown at gardaí and a Garda vehicle being set on fire.

Seven people were arrested and five charged with offences.

Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly described Tuesday's violence as "unacceptable" and vowed a robust response to any repeat.

Fireworks thrown at police officers outside the Citywest Hotel on Wednesday night

Stones and fireworks were once again thrown at police on Wednesday but the disorder was at a lower level than the night before and managed by a larger police presence.

Three officers were hurt and 24 people arrested, with 17 adults being charged with public order offences and five juveniles being put through youth diversion programme.

The police said those involved in disorder on Wednesday were mostly "young adult males and teenagers".