Protester launches firework at police officer’s FACE in Dublin city centre in anti-lockdown march 

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An anti-lockdown protester today shot a firework at a police officer’s face in Dublin, prompting Gardaí to charge at demonstrators headed for St Stephen’s Green.

Protesters were met by a heavy police presence before they could make it to the city centre park, which police had closed to the public before the planned demo at 2pm.

Some 23 people have been arrested following the clashes today, as officials confirm police are still carting away demonstrators who ‘engaged in attacks’ on officers.

Three officers were attacked during the demonstrations, one of whom was taken to hospital  

Footage showed the protesters massing on Grafton Street leading to the green before a man walked towards the police line aiming a stick of fireworks which blew into the face of an officer.

Gardaí reacted furiously to the projectile assault, charging with their batons and striking out as people fell to the ground while fireworks exploded around them.

Cans and traffic cones were hurled at officers in the chaos and women were heard shrieking in terror as police forced demonstrators back down the road. 

Gardaí were seen lashing out with batons and using snarling German Shepherd dogs to help clear the streets. 

Irish deputy premier Leo Varadkar said he was ‘horrified’ to see protesters clash with police on the streets of Dublin today.

He said: ‘This behaviour on Grafton St by a selfish few undermines sacrifices that millions have made in the last 12 months.’

Meanwhile, premier Micheal Martin said he ‘utterly condemns’ the protests, adding: ‘There can be no justification for the march or the violence that unfolded, and I pay tribute to members of An Garda Siochana who moved quickly to make arrests and restore order.’ 

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said that up to 20 people were arrested following today’s protests in Dublin.

‘We were aware of this protest and what was intended. We put plans in place and obviously intended to constrain that,’ Mr Harris said.

‘Very regrettably, people arrived intent on violence. They engaged in attacks on members of An Garda Siochana including the throwing of a firework type device. There will be a full investigation into this.

‘There were some 20 arrests that we have made already and those arrests are continuing. This operation is not over as we pursue individuals who engage in protest and illegal activity today.

‘They had no reasonable grounds for being there in the first place so we will pursue particularly those who formed a very hard core to deal with.

‘You don’t carry a firework to a protest with any other purpose than to engage in violent conduct. We will follow through with an investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice.’ 

Before the violence erupted the demonstrators had walked down Dublin’s main thoroughfare, O’Connell Street, to the General Post Office (GPO) where a recording of the Proclamation of the Irish Republic was played. 

Fine Gael TD Neale Richmond called the organisers ‘self-styled patriots’ who preyed upon the fears of the most vulnerable in society with conspiracy theories.

‘From the outset, this protest was ill-advised, fuelled by conspiracy theories and championed by individuals seeking to manipulate the genuine fears of many vulnerable individuals,’ he told The Independent.

‘Some of the eye witness footage circulating is extremely disturbing and every public representative should condemn these awful scenes.

‘The footage appears to show a lit firework being thrown at members of the gardai by one protester, which is truly shameful.

‘These self-styled patriots are a clear threat to the well-being of our nation. All these Covid protestors have done is bring shame to our capital’s streets.’  

Higher Education Minister Simon Harris also condemned the chaos.

‘Pure thuggery on the streets of Dublin today,’ the minister tweeted.

‘It’s not a ‘protest’. It’s an attack on our national effort. The abuse directed at the gardaí is sickening and shameful. Disgraceful. Thoughts with the gardaí and their families.’ 

Gardaí earlier said they would be operating a ‘policing plan’ in the city centre, with the Luas (tram) line closed into St Stephen’s Green and several other diversions in place. 

In a tweet, the police force said: ‘A number of traffic diversions and other policing plans are currently in place. Those who are conducting their essential journeys may meet obstructions on their journey and will need to avail of diversions.’ 

Ireland has been living under draconian lockdown restrictions throughout the winter.

The Level 5 rules currently in force mean you cannot leave your home unless you have a ‘reasonable excuse’ for doing so and must stay within 3 miles of your home. 

 

You cannot have guests at your house and can only meet another household for exercise outdoors. 

The country has recorded an average of 27 coronavirus deaths and 693 new cases over the last seven days.

Leo Varadkar said last week that the next interval at which the government would consider easing restrictions would not be until April 5.  

As of February 23, 373,280 doses of the coronavirus vaccine had been administered in Ireland, a country of almost 5 million people.

This includes 238,841 first doses and 134,439 second doses.