'We're better than this': Varadkar says Dublin rioter brought shame on Ireland
A bus and car on fire on O'Connell Street in Dublin city centre after violent scenes unfolded following an attack on Parnell Square East where five people were injured, including three young children. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has condemned the rioting in Dublin city overnight, promising that the “full resources of the law” will be used to punish those involved.
Mr Varadkar said that those involved in the rioting were not patriots and they instead sought to “terrify, intimidate, loot and destroy” following the stabbing attack in Parnell Square.
He said those involved in the disorder brought shame on Ireland, their families, and themselves. He confirmed that the Government would move to expedite the passing of the new Hate-Speech Bill, alongside legislation around the use of Facial Recognition Technology.
Speaking in Dublin Castle, Mr Varadkar said: “Yesterday evening, some people decided that the best way to respond to this terrible attack was to take to the streets of Dublin and try to terrify, intimidate, loot and destroy.
“Their first reaction to a five-year-old child being stabbed was to burn our city, attack its businesses and assault our gardaí.”
That girl remains in a critical condition in CHI Temple Street following the attack in Dublin on Thursday afternoon.
Another girl, six, continues to receive medical treatment for less serious injuries in CHI Crumlin. A five-year-old boy was discharged from CHI Crumlin on Thursday evening. Gardaí said a woman in her 30s remains in a serious condition in the Mater Hospital.
The Taoiseach also highlighted that pregnant women in the Rotunda Hospital were “made feel unsafe and in danger” during the rioting.
“These people claim to be defending Irish citizens, yet they put in danger the newest and most vulnerable and most innocent people,” Mr Varadkar said, adding that they brought shame on Ireland, their families and themselves.
“These criminals did not do what they did because they love Ireland. They did not do what they did because they wanted to protect Irish people. They did not do it out of any sense of patriotism, however warped. They did so because they're filled with hate,” Mr Varadkar said.
“They love violence, they love chaos, and they love causing pain to others. Looting a shop was more important to them than protecting the lives of our children.”
Mr Varadkar confirmed that the Government would move to prosecute those who took part in the rioting, saying they would “use the full resources of the law” to do so.
“This morning as Taoiseach, I promise we will use the full resources of the law, the full machinery of the State to punish those involved in yesterday's grotesque events and will put in place measures to ensure that any repeated attempts will meet the full measure of the law,” Mr Varadkar told reporters.
Mr Varadkar also confirmed that there would be a review of the riot and how it escalated.
“We will of course carry out a full review of the events and find out what can be done better,” he said.
“But I don’t want there to be any ambiguity about this, the people who caused this and are to blame for this are those who engaged in the violence and rioting.
“It’s the gardaí who brought it under control and we have to support them 100%.”
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said 34 people have been arrested after the “huge destruction by a riotous mob” last night.
Justice Minister Helen McEntee said the "violent thugs and criminals" who engaged in disorder in Dublin last night could face up to 10 years in prison.
Meanwhile, the Taoiseach also confirmed that the Government would move to expedite the passing of the new Hate-Speech Bill, alongside legislation around the use of Facial Recognition Technology.
“I think it's now very obvious to anyone who might have doubted it, that our incitement to hatred legislation is just not up to date. It's not up to date for the social media age.
“We need that legislation through and we need it through in a matter of weeks because it’s not just the platforms who have responsibility here, and they do. There’s also the indidivulas who post messages and images online that stir up hatred and violence and we need to be able to use laws to go after them individually as well.”
There are also concerns that there could be follow up actions over the weekend, with Mr Varadkar saying that gardaí will be free to use the Public Order Act in the coming days.
Mr Varadkar said that it is important that people remember the ideals of the Irish flag, and that it is not about “beating your chest and pointing to where you were born”.
“Today I call on us all to remember who we really are because we're better than this. And this time we came together and reminded others who claim to speak for us about what our country really stands for.”
