2006 Dublin riots

The 2006 Dublin Republican riots began during a contentious Love Ulster demonstration in Dublin on the 25th of February 2006 when Ireland's national police force, the Garda Síochána attempted to disperse a group of protesters who were blocking the route of the proposed march on O'Connell Street.

Background

"Love Ulster" is a loyalist organisation, dedicated to commemorating the Protestant victims of The Troubles in Northern Ireland. Their march in Dublin consisted of a uniformed band from the Orange Order and several hundred activists and relatives of victims. The march of this group in Dublin, the capital of the Republic of Ireland, was viewed as provocative by some Irish nationalists and Irish republicans, but the "right to march" was supported by the main Irish political parties. The march was authorised by the Garda Síochána.

Organizers of the demonstration previously said they could not guarantee that images of Robert McConnell an Ulster Volunteer Force member, accused of murdering 26 people in Dublin during the Dublin and Monaghan Bombings of 1974, would not be displayed during the demonstration.

The Riot

Although Sinn Fein, the main Irish republican party, did not organise a protest and said that the march should be allowed to go ahead, an extremist splinter group, Republican Sinn Fein did. Their protest blocked the north eastern end of O'Connell Street where the Love Ulster group had planned to march. The small Republican Sinn Fein group were joined by several hundred local youths. Before the violence broke out, they chanted slogans such as "I I IRA" and others that related to the Continuity IRA. Several thousand bystanders were also on the scene, but took no part in the subsequent rioting. When Gardaí attempted to disperse the protest, violence broke out, with protesters attacking the police.

Stones and metal railings - to be used for renovation work on O'Connell St - were thrown at Gardaí, as were fireworks, bricks and other missiles. Some rioters had brought stocks of bottles with them. Several barricades were constructed from building materials on the street to impede the march and the Gardaí. The march was due to start at 12:30, however, as the violence went on, the Gardaí decided against trying to escort the marchers through O'Connell St. and put them back onto the coaches that had brought them to Dublin from Northern Ireland. The three coaches were then driven to Leinster House, where they handed in a letter to Irish Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell. They were then escorted out of the city.

Violence continued sporadically on O'Connell street for another hour or so. Several Gardaí, protesters and at least one journalist, Charlie Bird of RTE, were injured. In addition, the windows of several businesses, including Ulster Bank near O'Connell Bridge, were smashed and at least one shop was looted. While the stand off on O'Connell street was still going on, several hundred rioters followed the loyalist coaches to the Nassau Street area, where they set several cars alight and damaged several businesses as well as trying to attack the "Love Ulster" demonstrators. In addition, the offices of the Progressive Democrats party were attacked. Further skirmishes broke out at O'Connell Bridge, Aston Quay, Fleet Street and Temple Bar, before the rioters dispersed. The most serious damage to property was in the Nassau Street area, where three cars were burnt out, windscreens were smashed and businesses had their windows broken.

The Gardaí then closed O'Connell Street to facilitate a clean up of the scene by building workers. Media reports have estimated the cost of the clean up job at €50,000. Estimates for the number of unionist marchers before the event were predicted to be over 1000. However, only three coach loads turned up, which would indicate less than 300 people. Estimates for the number of counter-demonstrators vary between 300 and 7000. It is difficult to tell exactly how many protesters there were as there were also several thousand by-standers. Most of the rioters appeared to be local youths, though some were clearly political activists judging by their possession of leaflets and other political literature. Republican Sinn Fein have issued a statement condemning what they said was an "underestimate of the true level of opposition to the march by the Irish government."

Injuries

A total of 14 people including 6 Gardaí along with a small number of journalists and photographers, were hospitalised as a result of the rioting. A further 41 people were arrested, according to RTE news.

Official condemnation

Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern condemned the riots, saying, ""It is the essence of Irish democracy and republicanism that people are allowed to express their views freely and in a peaceful manner. People who wantonly attack Gardai and property have no respect for their fellow citizens." Minister for Justice Michael McDowell, opposition leaders Enda Kenny of Fine Gael and Pat Rabbitte of the Irish Labour Party and Sinn Fein TD Sean Crowe also condemnded the days events. Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams added his voice to the condemnation, saying, "There is no justification for what happened this afternoon in Dublin. Sinn Fein had appealed to people to ignore this loyalist parade and not to be provoked by it. Our view was that it should not be opposed in any way and we made that clear. Regrettably a small, unrepresentative group, chose to ignore our appeal." The President of Ireland, Mary McAleese also condemned the rioters. Jeffrey Donaldson of the Democratic Unionist Party, who was in Dublin for the Love Ulster march, said he was 'appalled' by the violence.

O'Connell Street was closed off while the disturbances were occuring but has since been re-opened although the majority of businesses remain closed.

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