Gardaí maintained a presence overnight in Newtownmountkennedy, Co. Wicklow. No further significant incidents were reported overnight. Gardaí remain on site this morning.
Six arrests were made by Gardaí during yesterday’s serious public disorder.
3 men and 1 woman have been charged for offences contrary to the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994. They will appear before the District Court later today.
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.
One male juvenile has been released without charge. A referral will be prepared for the Youth Diversion Project in accordance with the Children Act 2001.
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris visited the location at Newtownmountkennedy this morning. 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.”
