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Gardaí were prepared for potential violence and drafted in specialist officers to help police Dublin protest

A look behind the scenes at how gardaí prepared for today’s operation.

LAST UPDATE | 28 Feb 2021

WELL OVER A HUNDRED gardaí were involved in the response to yesterday’s lockdown demonstrations in Dublin city centre, and the force had prepared for the likelihood that events would turn violent. 

Officers identified the risk of violence at the event after monitoring online chatter in recent weeks, sources say, and had put in place a full policing plan to deal with any unrest.

This involved a large number of gardaí from the Public Order Unit, Dog Unit as well as uniform, so-called soft cap officers to man positions across Dublin city centre.

There were also specialist plain clothes gardaí involved – from street crime units based in the city centre, and from national units tasked with monitoring subversive elements and groups that may pose a threat to the security of the state. 

It’s understood senior gardaí, including Commissioner Drew Harris, took direct command of the operation from the city’s control room.

They directed resources into the area and monitored events as they unfolded on garda CCTV cameras.

Gardaí were briefed mid-morning and then took up positions. The plan was for a graduated response: the visible policing presence was of uniformed officers at first, they were replaced by public order units as the threat increased, but those officers were not wearing full riot gear. 

The protest was planned for Stephen’s Green at 2pm. But at around lunchtime an order was given by gardaí to close both Stephen’s Green and Merrion Square parks and to begin clearing the area.

The Grafton Street operation was being directed on the ground by a Superintendent from a city centre station.

A public address system was set up by protesters near the Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre entrance at about 2pm, and speeches were made. However once they were over the atmosphere in the crowd turned more hostile.

As this was happening some in the crowd began shouting abuse at gardaí.

As officers formed a cordon to begin clearing the top of Grafton Street a group of three people in the crowd lit a firework and moved to the front of the crowd, launching it at the line of public order and uniform officers. Firework bangers were also flung during this phase of the protest. 

Gardaí moved forward in an attempt to arrest the suspects, with batons drawn, and this caused a massive surge of people back down Grafton Street towards the South Anne Street junction.

An “assistance call” to all city units was issued and gardaí from areas across Dublin  flooded in to help their colleagues.

Sources said that gardaí were able to disperse the people back down Grafton Street and eventually a few die-hard protestors made their way to O’Connell Street.

A number of people were handing out fliers from The National Party at various locations in the city. These leaflets had slogans like “Let Ireland Live!” and “Support the National Party. Support an End to Lockdowns”.

The back of the flier had other phrases about dismissing the lockdowns by “Leinster House and Stormont”.

Sources said that gardaí believe that rather than being organised by one group, yesterday’s planned protest was organised by several.

The event followed an online campaign over recent weeks calling on business owners to open up non-essential retail and hospitality businesses in defiance of public health laws.

“The crowd was a lot of different, disparate groupings. Some anti-vax people, some anti-lockdown, some right wing and some left wing, there were also suspicions of republican subversive elements,” a source said. 

“This is the way it has been with a number of these groups, everything from people calling themselves patriots to right wing activists but they would all have conspiracy anti-Government opinions.

“Gardaí on the ground as well said a great majority of those at the event were local youths who just wanted a fight with the guards.”

ANTI LOCKDOWN PROTEST_8017 Sam Boal Sam Boal

Leading up to yesterday’s protest, the intelligence picture was compiled by the garda intelligence sections – based locally in Divisional Headquarters and in the national unit Crime and Security.

Sources said the information about the protest was of a serious tone from the outset and necessitated large numbers of gardaí to be deployed.

“The next phase will be to get identities on those involved. Already a photograph of the male who launched the firework has been circulated,” a source said. 

“Images will be collated and disseminated via the garda internal portal and bulletins, gardaí will be asked to nominate identities and these will be fed into the system.

“There were more than 20 arrests at the incident but you can be sure there will be a lot more in the coming weeks.”

A statement issued by the Garda Press Office also confirmed “disparate groups” were involved and said that the operation’s initial focus was to prevent people gathering.

The statement said that from 1.30pm gardaí came under attack, targeted with “fireworks, missiles and spit”. 

23 people were arrested under Public Order Legislation. Three Garda personnel were injured during the incident. One required hospital treatment for his injuries – understood to be a broken ankle.

“The policing operation initially involved approximately 125 members of An Garda Síochána, Uniformed Personnel, Plain clothes, Public Order Units, Garda Mounted Unit and Garda Dog Unit. During the course of the operation further resources were redeployed from across the DMR region in support,” a spokesman said.

Commissioner Harris added: “An Garda Síochána have made 23 arrests so far in relation to the disturbances in Dublin City centre today. A major investigation is now underway to seek and bring to justice those that have committed offences today. Gardaí have also noted a number of individuals outside their home without a legitimate excuse.

“This was a protest that sits outside the normal behaviours of our society. These are not mainstream groups, the great majority of our society are compliant with the regulations and are living within these regulations in order to suppress COVID-19.

“An Garda Síochána responded in a professional manner today which resulted in calm returning to the city centre. We will maintain an active presence in the City tonight to ensure that the City Centre remains safe and secure tonight.”

Additional reporting Ian Curran

This article was first published at 8pm Saturday evening – Garda Commissioner Drew Harris clarified this morning that there is no corroborated evidence that extreme left factions were engaged in yesterday’s anti-lockdown protest. 

Harris yesterday told RTÉ News that both far-right and far-left factions were involved in yesterday’s clashes which left several Gardaí injured. 

In a statement this morning, Harris said: “The vast majority of those who took part belong to a number of factions including anti-vaccine, anti-mask and anti-lockdown protestors, far right groups, and those intent on trouble and disorder.

 “Despite initial indications, following further investigation, there is no corroborated evidence of extreme left factions being involved.

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166 Comments
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    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Getyercoat
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    Apr 20th 2014, 6:42 PM

    Strangest headline ever.

    631
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    Mute Brian Flynn
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    Apr 20th 2014, 6:48 PM

    Agreed. Should read “Excellent arrest by Gardai after Robbery incident in Artane”.

    Well done!

    657
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    Mute Drama Dave
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    Apr 20th 2014, 7:02 PM

    A man walks into a Dublin petrol station. He robs a yellow cylinder and leaves by the back door. He is stopped by a routine garda patrol who ask him: “What did you do that for?” To which he replies: “Ah boys, sure i only did it for the gas.”

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    Mute ThomasFrancisMeagher
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    Apr 20th 2014, 7:49 PM

    Sad thing is that the same gurrier will probably be arrested again tomorrow or the day after for a similar offence & when eventually charged will get a suspended sentence ….. and go on to reoffend again & again. Time for our judicial system to start being fit for purpose & handing down proper sentences & time for a jail to be built to keep these gurriers away from the good people in society.

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    Mute Chris Mcdonnell
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    Apr 21st 2014, 9:50 AM

    Or maybe “tax collectors on way to set up speed trap catch thief”
    Sub heading ” government enquiry to be set up as to why money collectors were stopping crime rather than making money” two guards to be suspended.

    4
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    Mute Pete L Tímoni
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    Apr 21st 2014, 10:24 AM

    Someone clearly
    has the hump. They do their job and u still have a go. If u don’t like being done for speeding then don’t speed!! Your clearly well aware that it could happen. So , believe it or not, you have the choice to avoid it by slowing down.

    20
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    Mute Gizmo mac
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    Apr 20th 2014, 6:45 PM

    All those who slate the guards are probably sittin on their h#les eatin Easter eggs today while those lads out on the front line are lookin after us! Thanks lads, yere management have let ye down but you guys in the cold face are doin a great job!

    529
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    Mute Gizmo mac
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    Apr 20th 2014, 6:50 PM

    Coal face

    106
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    Mute enda nolan
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    Apr 20th 2014, 6:52 PM

    It’s the corrupt element in the guards let them down

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    Mute Gizmo mac
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    Apr 20th 2014, 6:55 PM

    I alluded to that fact.

    115
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    Mute enda nolan
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    Apr 20th 2014, 6:56 PM

    Your saying management let them down it’s not management only

    42
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    Mute Gizmo mac
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    Apr 20th 2014, 7:00 PM

    To a large extent yes.

    116
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    Mute enda nolan
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    Apr 20th 2014, 7:24 PM

    It’s not management that has let them down its corrupt garda the ones on the coal face as you call them I m not saying all garda are corrupt but there s an element through the force nation wide that are it all can’t be blamed on management

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    Mute Gizmo mac
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    Apr 20th 2014, 7:29 PM

    You’re talkin some rot there lad. It doesn’t even make any sense, where’s your evidence to support this rogue element?

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    Mute enda nolan
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    Apr 20th 2014, 7:34 PM

    Enda kenny came out last week says he has 36 cases to go through the Ian bailey case fr Molloy Ming says he has being told of more cases you watch fella it’s not just going be one or two cases

    30
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    Mute Gizmo mac
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    Apr 20th 2014, 7:40 PM

    Some very reliable sources there buddy!!

    103
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    Mute enda nolan
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    Apr 20th 2014, 7:45 PM

    Which of them is unreliable

    24
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    Mute Montys Moonshine
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    Apr 20th 2014, 7:50 PM

    I think you’ll find enda, that the complaints are coming from guards and are about senior management. You’re all mixed up kid

    108
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    Mute Gizmo mac
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    Apr 20th 2014, 7:54 PM

    Enda put away your baileys Easter egg your headeen is melted!!

    78
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    Mute enda nolan
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    Apr 20th 2014, 7:59 PM

    You think it’s all done by senior management your joking your selves

    26
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    Mute Dan Slevin
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    Apr 20th 2014, 8:33 PM

    Not bein pedantic but is it not “coal face” great comment though

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    Mute executioner
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    Apr 20th 2014, 8:37 PM

    You seem to be like one of those keyboard experts who has an opinion on every story on the journal,Public servant are we? Either that or on the scratcher must be great to have so much time to spout bs.

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    Mute Brian Flynn
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    Apr 20th 2014, 9:20 PM

    Sorry Enda you lost me at Ming!

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    Mute Patrice Lelookcoco
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    Apr 20th 2014, 10:12 PM

    Gizmo, Enda. Get a room. Yawn..

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    Mute Andy
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    Apr 21st 2014, 5:25 AM

    Enda, does your keyboard not have any fullstops / commas? Or are you simply incapable of punctuation?

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    Mute Jason Ebbs
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    Apr 20th 2014, 6:45 PM

    And who said “the Gardaí are never around when you need them” !!

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    Mute mark ryan
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    Apr 20th 2014, 7:57 PM

    Fair f$$$in play to the guards, height of respect for the ones actually out walkin the streets of this dangerous city every day.

    259
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    Mute TOP CAT
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    Apr 20th 2014, 6:52 PM

    Another master criminal of the streets….
    These criminals are getting thicker by the day.
    Fair play to the Gardai for getting him..

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    Mute cosmological
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    Apr 20th 2014, 6:51 PM

    If there were more patrols you’d get more of this. Funding, again, a priority.

    212
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    Mute Chris Mcdonnell
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    Apr 21st 2014, 9:54 AM

    Hang on if we caught more criminals it would cost a fortune in free legal aid, not to mention the cost of a trail and the cost of pretending to lock them up after sentencing.
    It’s much better to have less guards and let the filth rob and steal all they as long as stay out of certain areas.

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    Mute aido m
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    Apr 20th 2014, 7:40 PM

    10-1 he has many previous convictions .is known to the gardai .and will be back in the streets in a day if not hours due to our TOP CLASS judicial system.well done to the guards but they must seriously get frustrated at times ,don’t know how they do it

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    Mute Kenneth Hickey
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    Apr 20th 2014, 8:45 PM

    Well done to the Gardai involved and thank you.

    130
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    Mute Eagle eye
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    Apr 20th 2014, 7:26 PM

    Enda you numpty, I’m sure his point was that this is what most Gardai do everyday, facing down armed criminals with a baton while people like you tar the whole force over the actions of tiny percentage who let them down

    119
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    Mute enda nolan
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    Apr 20th 2014, 8:07 PM

    Did I tar them all I said a corrupt element in the guards how is that tarring them all

    19
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    Mute Danny Swan
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    Apr 20th 2014, 8:04 PM

    Why didn’t you become one so or are you too stupid or windy

    26
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    Mute mark ryan
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    Apr 20th 2014, 8:06 PM

    Is that aimed at me?

    12
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    Mute Kieran brennan
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    Apr 20th 2014, 7:42 PM

    Sure it’s Easter Sunday. The place will be full of guards for the OT.

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    Mute Aireach
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    Apr 21st 2014, 1:51 AM

    Kieran you are a poorly informed fool.

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    Mute Luke Vogelsang
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    Apr 20th 2014, 7:43 PM

    For once the guards’ are around when needed!!!!

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    Mute Alan De Morrighan
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    Apr 21st 2014, 2:23 AM

    Just wondering if bladed implement is a politically correct term for slash hook?

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    Mute Kieran Cahill Denise Cuddihy
    Favourite Kieran Cahill Denise Cuddihy
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    Apr 21st 2014, 12:47 AM

    And then she said,she said who the fook cares and that was the end of that…..

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    Mute Rusty3578 ^
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    Apr 20th 2014, 8:05 PM

    Sure I don’t blame him he needed money !

    6
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