Laois Offaly TD 'deeply alarmed' at policing of protests after violence erupts in Wicklow

A Laois Offaly TD says she is 'deeply alarmed' at garda policing of protests at centres to accommodate people seeking Ireland's protection after violence erupted in Wicklow which saw a garda attacked and an axe used to damage a patrol car.

Dep Carol Nolan issued a statement calling on the Garda Commissioner Drew Harris and the Minister for Justice Helen McEntee to address concerns about the model of policing by consent, as laid down for An Garda Síochána in its policy documents.

She claimed this is being "eroded" and undermined by "ongoing confrontations" between members of the force and members of the public who wish to "peacefully protest" about the presence of International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) accommodation centres in their locality.

Her call came before a statement by Garda HQ in which Commissioner Harris commented on events in Newtownmountkennedy. 

Gardaí said six arrests were made by Gardaí during what they described as incidents of "serious public disorder". They said three men and one woman have been charged for offences contrary to the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994.

The statement said that one man has been charged with alleged offences contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 and the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1997, and released to appear before court at a later date.

It said one male juvenile was released without charge but a referral would be prepared for the Youth Diversion Project in accordance with the Children Act 2001.

The statement said Commissioner Harris visited the location in Wicklow in the aftermath. Speaking after that visit Commissioner Harris stated:

"There were very unacceptable scenes seen here in terms of a protest, which then turned to violence. We’ve seen an attempt to burn a small outhouse type premises, but also then disgracefully, attacks on members of An Garda Síochána who were attacked with stones and indeed vehicles have been damaged, and one vehicle, the vehicle behind me, was damaged with an axe.

"As we can see with a normal patrol vehicle, both front window and the rear window have been smashed with an axe, not a hatchet, a full size axe. And also then we've had another vehicle lights broken and the Public Order vehicle with its tyres slashed.

"Beyond that, there was there were attempts to injure members of An Garda Síochána. Rubble and stones were thrown from fields and members had to deploy in protective public order equipment and shields to make sure that they could protect themselves from the assaults upon them,” he said.

For her part Deputy Nolan said scenes Newtownmountkenndy in particular are allowing a perception to take root that the majority of rank and file gardai are indifferent to community concerns.

The Independent TD's statement said this could “completely destabilise the enormous benefits that have been nurtured through consistent and positive community engagement.”:

“I am deeply alarmed at the direction in which the entire situation around policing at IPAS related protests is heading.

“I am also extremely worried by footage in which an accredited female journalist who identified herself as such was apparently been pepper sprayed by Gardaí.

“We know from the Garda Decision Making Model policy document and indeed from our everyday experience, that policing by consent is a core part of the Gardaí’s guiding philosophy.

“Indeed, within that document it is explicitly stated that decisions about how Gardaí operate must take account of community needs and expectations and the impact of any decision on the community.

“It goes on to say that working collaboratively to build positive working relationships focussed on addressing issues of concern for communities should be a primary concern for all Garda personnel.

“I could not agree more with those statements. However, we are now at a point where a perception is taking hold that the primacy of that concern is being subordinated to a policy of intimidation.

“I know from my own engagement with rank-and-file gardai that the very last thing they want to be doing is confronting the women and children and men who want to voice their peaceful concerns. They abhor the level of division and animosity this is creating.

“Indeed, many gardai are privately wondering how it will even be possible for a normalised version of community engagement to return given the fact that we are looking at a decade and more of ten thousand plus IPAS applicants arriving annually.

“I am urgently appealing for calm and a sense of proportionality as the situation is ripe for deterioration, and that is something which must be addressed urgently by both the Commissioner and the Minister,” concluded Deputy Nolan.