Six people have been arrested after Gardaí were attacked in Co Wicklow during a protest at a site earmarked for asylum seekers.
Footage emerged on social media showing a blaze outside Trudder House in Newtownmountkennedy, which is being planned for use to accommodate asylum seekers.
Fires had been lit and an axe was recovered at the scene, which is due to accommodate international protection applicants.
Officers in riot gear were deployed after the situation intensified.
The public order unit was brought in, and officers used shields and pepper spray. Around 50 gardaí were at the scene in Newtownmountkennedy.
Three patrol cars were damaged with windows broken and tyres slashed.
One Garda was injured during the incident, with the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) condemning the attack on its members.
In a statement, the AGSI described the scenes as “evidence of escalating stand-offs with Gardaí which are worryingly becoming ever more frequent.”
Gardaí say they were verbally and physically abused throughout the day at Trudder House, escalating to rocks and other missiles being thrown.
A number of trespassers were also identified and were removed from the site last night.
Six people have been arrested and are being held at Garda stations in Wicklow.
The Minister for Justice, is defending the actions of Gardaí during the protest last night.
Minister Helen McEntee says the use of shields and pepper spray was justified:
" In particular for this site, they have cleared it a number of times, they have been there, they have been managing it.
"But it did escalate last night to a situation where you had Gardaí coming under fire, where you had Gardaí being attacked.
"Six people were arrested, and I don't think anybody looking at the pictures from last night would disagree with the approach that the Gardaí have taken".
