Three guards injured and one man arrested after fresh riots in Coolock

Three police officers have been injured after another day of rioting in Coolock, north Dublin, with one requiring hospitalisation after suffering facial injuries.

A police operation was deployed in the Malahide Road area on Friday ahead of a planned protest over a plan to house international protection seekers on the site of the former Crown Paints factory.

The guards said the protest, which was attended by around 1,000 people, was peaceful. However, shortly afterwards a public order incident occurred on Malahide Road, prompting the deployment of both uniformed guards and members of the Public Order Unit.

During this time a fire broke out at the site, which was later contained by Dublin firefighters.

During the riots, gardaí said officers were subjected to abuse and had objects, including stones and bricks, thrown at them.

As the situation escalated, guards used force, using incapacitating spray and ASP batons.

A man in his 20s was arrested during the incident and taken to a Garda station in connection with alleged public order offences.

Three members of the guard were injured in the rioting, including one guard who was taken to hospital for treatment of facial injuries.

The Malahide Road was closed for a time but has since been fully reopened.

A statement from Gardaí added: “An Garda Síochána is aware of a significant degree of misinformation and inaccuracy in circulation regarding events at this location; it is advised to independently verify any information shared online via social media and/or messaging applications.”

Investigations into the matter and related incidents are ongoing, the statement concluded.