A riot broke out in Dublin, Ireland on Tuesday night as angry protesters clashed with police after an illegal migrant was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a 10-year-old Irish girl in state care.
The violence erupted outside the City West Hotel — now used as a migrant shelter — where the accused, a man in his 20s from Africa with a deportation order, was reportedly staying. Hundreds of protesters gathered, many waving Irish flags and chanting, “Get them out, get them out,” referring to the roughly 2,000 migrants living at the center.
Police said the scene quickly turned violent. A patrol car was torched, and demonstrators hurled bottles, bricks, and fireworks at officers. “An Garda Síochána facilitates peaceful protests on a daily basis. This was obviously not a peaceful protest,” Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly said. “The actions this evening can only be described as thuggery.” Six people were arrested, and a female officer suffered a foot injury as nearly 300 officers worked to regain control.
Prime Minister Micheál Martin condemned the violence but acknowledged that the alleged assault itself was of “deep concern,” saying the young victim “had not been protected by the state.” The girl had reportedly absconded from Tusla child protection staff during a supervised outing before encountering the suspect.
The suspect’s immigration history has fueled public outrage. He failed an asylum application and was ordered deported in March 2024 but remained in Ireland. The €150 million City West facility — purchased by the government as a permanent migrant center — has been a flashpoint for growing anti-immigration anger amid a series of violent crimes involving foreign nationals.
