Gardaí are implementing a special policing plan ahead of several protests against asylum seekers

A special policing plan has been drawn up for at least nine anti-asylum-seeker protests, which are scheduled to take place in various locations from 5 p.m. today.

Sources say uniformed officers will be dispatched to each event and public order units will be on standby should public disorder or violent incidents break out.

“This is not about intrusive police tactics that could increase tensions out there, this is about gardaí openly monitoring these protests to ensure the rule of law is upheld and people are safe,” a source explained.

Seven of the planned protests are taking place in Dublin – five on the north side of the capital – and the other two protests are taking place at sites in Co Kildare.

The development comes as Justice Secretary Simon Harris said yesterday that people are traveling across the country to intimidate asylum seekers seeking shelter in Ireland and that Gardaí “take these matters very seriously”.

Speaking at an event at TU Dublin, Mr Harris said he would not describe the gatherings of people opposing the housing of asylum seekers in their communities as protests.

“In my view, when people show up in front of a building that is temporarily sheltering people, including women and children, and start saying things, like shouting for them to come out — that’s not a protest in my view protest,” Mr. Harris said.

“This is intimidating and in my opinion in no way reflects the communities in which these facilities and shelters are located,” he added.

A top priority for Gardaí in their policing plan is to ensure there is no violence or inflammatory behavior.

“While there have been many unsavory and intimidating incidents at similar protests over the past few weeks, the current information is that no violence is planned, but of course that can change at any time,” a source said.

The Special Detective Unit (SDU) and officers from the Security and Intelligence Division at Garda headquarters have been monitoring the online activities of a number of people involved in the protests and linked to far-right extremist groups.

“Gardaí knows who these individuals are and surveillance has been ongoing for some time, but it has intensified this week,” the source said.

“Many of them are far-right individuals, have already been monitored for infiltrating anti-vaccination and anti-lockdown protests during the Covid pandemic, and now they are involved in those protests,” the source added.

Gardaí say they are “confident” in their ability to monitor the protests today.

“These particular events have been happening for some time over the last few weeks and gardaí have experience not only of these events but of protests in general,” the source said.

“So far there have been no major incidents at these protests other than a few public order arrests and there is currently no information that what is planned for Thursday will be any different, but there is a police plan to deal with any problems.” to become,” the source added.

Significant protests have recently erupted outside shelters in Dublin and elsewhere, with members of the far right accused of organizing the demonstrations.

The latest protest took place in Ballymun, north Dublin, which is home to a number of asylum seekers.