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Garda Tighten Security at Citywest After Violent Protests as Arrests Top 30

A reinforced security cordon remains pending further prosecutions.

Overview

  • Steel barriers and a visible Garda presence remain around the complex, with the main entrance open to pedestrians only.
  • About 2,000 people attended a protest that turned violent, with fireworks, rocks and bottles thrown and Garda vehicles set on fire during prolonged clashes.
  • A 26-year-old man has been charged over the alleged sexual assault of a ten-year-old girl near the hotel, an incident that preceded the unrest.
  • More than 30 people have been arrested and about 20 charged as investigators review CCTV, body‑worn camera footage and social media material.
  • Residents report ongoing fear and disruption at a site housing roughly 1,200 Ukrainian refugees and hundreds of other asylum seekers, as far‑right figures amplified and, in some cases, visited the scene.