Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has vowed to take decisive action in response to the violent rampage by a far-right mob in Dublin, resulting in the arrest of 34 individuals. Describing the incidents as a “shame on Ireland,” Varadkar announced the government’s commitment to utilising the “full resources of the law” to punish the perpetrators and enhance hate and incitement legislation.
The unrest unfolded in central Dublin following a knife attack at a school, where a five-year-old girl was seriously injured, alongside a woman and two other children. While authorities have not disclosed the nationality of the detained suspect related to the stabbings, social media speculation about his ethnic background led to clashes between anti-immigrant protesters and the police.
Over 400 officers, including those in riot gear, were deployed to quell the violence, characterised by the Garda Commissioner as instigated by a “lunatic hooligan faction” with far-right ideologies. Instances of vandalism, looting, and arson, including damage to police vehicles, a bus, and a car, prompted the suspension of public transport and work-from-home recommendations.
Varadkar condemned the actions as driven by “hate” and emphasised reclaiming Ireland from those “filled with hate” who perpetrate violence and chaos. The Prime Minister pledged to employ the full legal apparatus to address the events, including passing new laws to optimise the use of collected CCTV evidence. Acknowledging the need to modernise hate and incitement laws, Varadkar affirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring the safety and security of the nation.
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