“I personally will not be attending this and I encourage everyone to avoid it”
There have been no reports of any incidents at the site today
A SMALL number of people held a demonstration outside the former Crown Paints factory in North Dublin earlier today as Coolock Says No said they had nothing to do with the protest.
The protest at the site which had been earmarked to house international protection applicants had been promoted online by people opposed to immigration and began at 3pm when a small number of people, some of whom waved tricolours, gathered outside.
Gardai had water canons which they borrowed from the PSNI on standby ahead of the protest but as of this evening there has been no incidents at the event.
In recent weeks gardai clashed with violent protestors some of whom threw missiles at officers and damaged vehicles.
There have been no reports of any incidents at the site today
There have also been numerous incidents of arson at the site and the High Court heard this week that drones were being used to deliver unlit petrol bombs to the area.
Protesters are objecting to the housing of international protection applicants in the area.
A large number of gardai were present at the protest while the garda helicopter hovered overhead.
However, there has been no outbreak of violence.
Several right-wing figures took to social media ahead of the protest to say it was not organised by Coolock Says No.
Newly elected Councillor Gavin Pepper wrote: “Everyone be aware that Coolock Says No never called for a peaceful protest today. The people who organised this have not identified this. I personally will not be attending this and I encourage everyone to avoid it.”
Another far-right figure, former postman Philip Dwyer, also advised people to avoid the protest and suggested it was a conspiracy.
Others also tried to put forward conspiracy theories about the protest despite the fact it was promoted by their English-born far-right ally Tommy Robinson who held a “patriotic rally” attended by thousands in London today.
Robinson, who was born in Luton but has an Irish passport as he has an Irish mother, promoted today’s protest in Coolock online.
He described it as a “planned demonstration against the dumping of unvetted migrant men in the town”.
He also encouraged Irish people in the UK to attend his protest in London and said the Irish tricolour would be welcome alongside British flags including the Union Jack and St George’s Cross.
Robinson regularly posts online message encouraging anti-immigration protests in Ireland.
