Violent protests outside Citywest after alleged assault

Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the Citywest hotel complex in Saggart, southwest Dublin on Tuesday evening, clashing with gardaí after an alleged sexual assault of a young girl linked to the site. The demonstration, which followed charges brought earlier in the day, turned violent as fireworks, bottles and other missiles were thrown, a garda van was set alight and officers used incapacitant spray to disperse crowds, gardaí said.

Gardaí described sustained attacks on their lines, including attempts to breach cordons with horse-drawn sulkies and the use of garden forks and other implements to obtain projectiles. The force said bins filled with glass bottles were emptied and used as missiles, and that the Garda Air Support Unit was targeted with laser beams. One member of An Garda Síochána required medical attention for a foot injury. Six people were arrested, primarily for public order offences, the force said.

Public order units, mounted gardaí, dog units, regional control room staff and a Garda helicopter were deployed to the scene. A water cannon was brought to the area but was not used, gardaí said. Nearly 300 members of the force were involved in the operation,...