The Taoiseach has warned the rioters who shamed Dublin on Thursday night “we are going to get them.”
An Garda Siochána is expecting further protests this weekend after hours of squalid behaviour was instigated which brought fire and ruin to an unsuspecting city populace.
“The first reaction to a five year old child being stabbed was to burn our city, attack our businesses and assault our Gardaí,” Varadkar told media at Dublin Castle.
“As a result, ….. buses and trams were set on fire, innocent passers-by were intimidated and pregnant women in Rotunda hospital were made feel unsafe and in danger.
“These people claim to be defending Irish citizens, yet they put in danger the newest, the most vulnerable and the most innocent people. Those involved brought shame on Dublin, shame on Ireland and brought shame on their families and themselves.
In his reaction to the sickening event he said he was “happy” with the policing response and said those involved will face the full rigours of the law.
“This is not who we are, this is not who we want to be and this is not who we will ever be.”
Mr Varadkar added there is now where to hide: “We will put measures to ensure any repeat attempts will meet the full measure of the law.”
He met with Garda Commissioner Drew Harris to reiterate that he has full confidence in both Mr Harris and Justice Minister Helen McEntee.
“Obviously, we’ll have to do a review as to what happened yesterday and all of the events leading up to it. But certainly, over the next couple of days and couple of weeks, we need to be 100pc behind the Gardaí. There should be no criticism of the Gardaí, only support, total support for the Gardaí and the Commissioner.”
He said 500 people were involved in rioting with a 400-strong Garda response. Gardaí will examine CCTV footage to identify the rioters: “We are going to get them,” he said.
“Whether stabbing a child, attacking the Gardaí, or rioting in our streets. They’re individually responsible for their actions. I don’t care what their background is, I don’t care what their excuses are and I don’t care who their apologists want to blame. They’re to blame and we’re going to get them.”
Mr Varadkar said there is “sufficient” training in place so as to ensure the public order act can be used “over the weekend” amid the possibility of further protests.
He said Gardaí will patrol the streets ”in numbers” to “fight back waves of ignorance and criminality”.
The Taoiseach added “We will put measures to ensure any repeat attempts will meet the full measure of the law.”
