In chaotic and violent scenes reminiscent of the street riots in Dublin city centre two years ago, around 1,000 protesters outside the Citywest IPAS centre in Saggart threw missiles, set fires, used fireworks as weapons and roared racist chants on Tuesday evening.

They had gathered in response to news that a man had been arrested in connection with the alleged sexual assault of a 10-year old Irish girl outside the centre, which is home to mostly Ukrainians but also international protection applicants.

The man, a failed asylum seeker in his 20s, has been in the State for six years and is the subject of a deportation order since March 2025.

There had already been protests by locals throughout the summer following news that the Government intended buying the hotel – Ireland’s largest with more than 750 bedrooms – and turning it into a State-run, permanent asylum centre. The sale, for €148 million, has now been finalised. But Tuesday’s protest was very different, not least because many of those present were not local.

So who were they and what did they want?

And how did the Garda manage and then diffuse such an incendiary situation? Has the force learned from the Dublin riots two years ago?

Irish Times crime and security editor Conor Lally was at Citywest and he reports on how events unfolded.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Andrew McNair.

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