For the past six months, Barry O'Kelly of RT Investigates has been filming at protests against accommodation for migrants. The programme to be broadcast tonight features views from protesters, experts on policing and political movements, and individuals developing sites for accommodation. It documents how fierce opposition has developed at certain sites, and sometimes spun out of control.
At protests at several locations the programme documents people with genuine concerns about the availability of local services - for them, and asylum seekers and others with more hardline outlooks.
On Monday 15 July, RT Investigates was inside the former Crown Paints site in Coolock as one of the largest anti-immigration protests nationwide to date exploded into rioting. The site entrance had been blocked for more than 100 days by protesters, who had set up a camp with wooden huts, couches, fridges and storage areas.Footage from the early hours in the morning captured the events that unfolded over the subsequent hours, as protests turned ever more violent with pictures of fires and clashes circulated around the world.
The dramatic footage documents the racial abuse and intimidation of workers on the Coolock site and shows how the site was overcome with agitators with one security officer knocked unconscious.
One man told the security staff: I'm going to find out where each and every one of youse live. Don't think we won't find you, cause we fking will. I've found worse c*s than you.
Another man said: You'll get f**king shot here. Making a gesture of a gun pointed to his head, he said: Bang, bang. That's what happens.
The programme documents how the crowd at the entrance grew as the early morning wore on. Go back to your country. The fences won't hold you. Dublin says no. Get the f**k out, you're a different breed.
Burn, baby burn, one man chanted in what proved to be a prophetic comment as the cameras later captured the moment a petrol bomb was thrown on site.
The programme documents the security team and the staff at the Coolock site continuously calling the Garda looking for help as they were essentially under siege.
The cameras captured agitators - some armed with poles roamed through the site, threatening and chasing after security workers, smashing windows, stealing beds, and most-visibly, setting fire to a digger. A member of the security team was hit in the head when a large pole was thrown in his direction. He was in and out of consciousness when paramedics arrived.
Outside the site entrance hours after calls had first been made about the growing violence the Garda public order units returned several hours after initially clearing the entrance to the site that morning. It was early evening before order was fully restored in the area.
In a statement to RT Investigates, An Garda S och na said the policing operation undertaken in Coolock, as with any event involving public disorder, was centred on a graduated approach and a strong tradition of policing by consent . It said over 200 members were deployed during the operation and a full investigation is now underway including the review of 3,000 hours of CCTV footage with 34 arrests having been made to date. It added three Garda were injured on the day.
Protests continued nightly over the following days. The site has been set on fire multiple times since. The developer of the site Paul Collins, spoke to RT Investigates revealing that he left the country amidst fears for his safety and that of his family.
Mr Collins has already installed houses for asylum seekers elsewhere, but he says the opposition to his plan for the north Dublin site has been different.
I'm not a guy that you easily frighten, but it's definitely more frightening, he said.
I don't understand in the sense of, you know, the hands on, the hands-off approach [by the Garda ]. Is there a law or is there not?
The former Crown Paints site is just one of 200 around the country designated for accommodating asylum applicants by the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS).
Some 400 people have been arriving weekly since February seeking international protection almost double last year's figure. This year alone, a total of 25,000 people are expected to make applications for asylum, bringing the total number since 2019 to 50,000.
With the growing numbers comes a growing demand for temporary accommodation and many local communities protesting their opposition to these being located in their communities for varying reasons.
Some experts have called for law and order reform to deal with the issue. However, others have warned the problems run deeper than that.
Dr Barry Cannon of the Department of Sociology in Maynooth University said, I would resist reducing it to a public order element, .
There is a very large amount of people which feel very disenfranchised and cannot be ignored in this battle for hearts and minds.
RT Investigates- Inside the Protests, tonight at 9:35pm on RT One and RT Player
ENDS
Date: 19 September, 2024
Contact: Sharon Brady, Senior Communications Manager, RT | Sharon.brady@rte.ie
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
17/05/2026
Delta Goodrem's Eurovision Eclipse marks end of a stellar run
17 May, 2026
Media releases
Bulgaria wins Eurovision 2026
Relive every spellbinding mome...
16/05/2026
Helps to deliver a clean, balanced midrange
Developed alongside Newfangled Audio, the latest plug-in in Eventide's software collection has been designed...
16/05/2026
Brings onboard stem rendering to RANE System One
Engine DJ have just released Engine DJ 5.0, a free update for their Engine DJ OS embedded hardware and Engi...
16/05/2026
Boris FX Continuum Pairs AI Precision and Advanced Creative Controls
Jessie Electa Petrov May 16, 2026
0 Comments
The 2026.5 release adds automatic de...
16/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
16/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
16/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
16/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/05/2026
Seattle Sounders FC and Seattle Reign FC, in partnership with RAVE Foundation an...
15/05/2026
Dan Brumm has served as sound designer on Bluey, the Australian children's t...
15/05/2026
The Professional Audio Manufacturers Alliance (PAMA) and Shure Incorporated are accepting applications for the 6th annual Mark Brunner Professional Audio Schola...
15/05/2026
Netflix has announced an expanded NFL schedule for 2026 and beyond under a four-year partnership extension with the NFL through the 2029-30 season. Each season,...
15/05/2026
Ateme is supporting TVRI (Televisi Republik Indonesia) with a contribution and d...
15/05/2026
Concacaf has announced the launch of a new website and mobile app built on Deltatre's FORGE platform. Concacaf.com and the mobile app, available on iOS and ...
15/05/2026
Eutelsat has announced the launch of QBC Business Economic Channel by Qatar Media Corporation, broadcasting in 4K/UHD via Eutelsat's 7/8 West video neighbo...
15/05/2026
Major League Soccer has announced four original content series timed to the 2026...
15/05/2026
The Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS) has announced it will exhibit and present at InfoComm 2026, taking place June 13-19 at the Las Vegas Convention Cente...
15/05/2026
InfoComm 2026 will take place June 13-19 (exhibits June 17-19) at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The show will include sessions and exhibits covering broadcas...
15/05/2026
Tracy McGrady's Ones Basketball League (OBL) and FuboTV Inc. have announced ...
15/05/2026
Disguise has partnered with Creative Technology (CT) to deliver visual playback ...
15/05/2026
Sony Electronics has announced two new products for professional imaging: the Alpha 7R VI full-frame mirrorless camera and the FE 100-400mm F4.5 GM OSS super-te...
15/05/2026
In-venue and creative video staffers at the professional and collegiate level ha...
15/05/2026
Ratings Roundup is a rundown of recent rating news and is derived from press rel...
15/05/2026
For sports organizations, the most valuable assets are often the most sensitive:...
15/05/2026
The NFL's broadcast partners released their 2026 regular season schedules ye...
15/05/2026
When MMA icons Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano meet inside the Hexagon at Intuit Do...
15/05/2026
Daniel Roher attends the Tuner Premiere during the 2026 Sundance Film Festival at Eccles Theatre on January 22, 2026 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Neilson Bar...
15/05/2026
Last night, the Spotify Podcast Awards in Mexico returned to the country's capital. Now in its second year, the evening honors creators whose voices are hel...
15/05/2026
Rebranded show announced
Ahead of their 2026 return, Music Expo have announced that they have now officially changed their name to the MONO Music Conference...
15/05/2026
Fuzz pedal joins UK companys line-up
UK-based pedal makers Buzzing Bugs Audio Devices have recently unveiled their latest creation, the Bolster. Said to pay...
15/05/2026
Joint Statement: News Bargaining Incentive
28 April, 2026
Media releases
The vibrancy of Australian democracy relies on the robust and open exchange of new...
15/05/2026
Call it Deltavision, Australia's through to the Grand Final of this year'...
15/05/2026
Join Calrec at MPTS 2026 | May 13-14 | Stand A40 | Olympia, London We're looking forward to meeting up with customers and partners at this year's Media ...
15/05/2026
86% of media planners would move more linear TV budget to CTV if they had show-level targeting and reporting - and 65% would also shift dollars from programmati...
15/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/05/2026
Clear-Com will showcase new communications solutions and major platform updates at InfoComm 2026 (Booth N7005), June 17-19, in the North and Central Halls of t...
15/05/2026
Following an outstanding inaugural year in 2025, Rise AV is proud to announce the return of its flagship leadership initiative, Elevate. The programme continues...
15/05/2026
Berklee Announces Lineup for Inaugural AI Music Summit The three-day event puts musicians at the center of the future of music creation, ethics, and the indus...
15/05/2026
Lightware returns to InfoComm 2026 with a focused showcase of scalable USB-C connectivity, next-generation AV-over-IP solutions, and technologies that help over...
15/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/05/2026
Delivering a live, arena-scale production of a massively popular band is no small feat. Between expansive in-arena LED walls and a global live stream fed to onl...
For the past six months, Barry O'Kelly of RT Investigates has been filming at protests against accommodation for migrants. The programme to be broadcast tonight features views from protesters, experts on policing and political movements, and individuals developing sites for accommodation. It documents how fierce opposition has developed at certain sites, and sometimes spun out of control.
