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Belfast Telegraph
12-05-2025
- Belfast Telegraph
‘We send love and solidarity to the young men's parents': Anti-racism group holds Derry vigil for Buncrana drowning victims
United Against Racism: Derry and North West campaigners have held a short vigil in memory of the two young men who tragically lost their lives in Co Donegal at the weekend. Emmanuel Familola (16), originally from Nigeria, and Matt Sibanda (18), from Zimbabwe, died after getting into difficulty in the water near Buncrana on Saturday. A third teenage boy managed to make it back to shore. The RNLI, Malin Head Coastguard, Irish Coast Guard helicopter, drones and people who had been involved in a yacht all took part in efforts to locate the teenagers. Both of the young men who died attended school in Buncrana, with Matt a student of Crana College and Emmanuel attending Scoil Mhuire. All three were international protection applicants who had lived in the area with their families. Yesterday evening, people gathered at the Famine Statues along Derry's quay to remember the victims of this tragedy. They also reflected on those who have lost their lives in the Foyle and 'all those who have perished at sea while trying to escape war and famine'. The sombre act of remembrance concluded with the placing of flowers into the Foyle. 'The tragic deaths of these extremely popular young men in Buncrana has left a community heartbroken,' said Davy McAuley from United Against Racism. 'The displays of solidarity and strength given to their families by the community stands in sharp contrast to the hate being generated by online; grifters who want to divide communities and make Donegal an uncomfortable and unwelcoming place for those who come to the county to make a new life for themselves. 'Our empathy and basic human decency means we respect, love and cherish anyone who lives in this place. 'We send love and solidarity to the parents of the young men. We assure them that the community across Derry and Inishowen will always be there for them.' The United Against Racism group were 'deeply shocked and saddened' by the tragic events on Saturday. 'The incredible weather over the weekend provided an opportunity for young people who have made their lives here to enjoy the beauty and natural wonders of Buncrana,' Mr McAuley said. 'Their tragic deaths have brought a community together and serves as a stark reminder that no matter who we are or where we come from, we are all the same. We face adversity together and we unite in basic solidarity remembering the old mantra 'an injury to one is an injury to all'.' He praised community cohesion as people assisted the emergency services in their heroic attempts to rescue the young men.
Daily Mail
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Ireland's asylum backlash: Anti-migrant marches threaten to boil over as thousands gather to protest 300% rise in asylum seekers and counter-protesters hit back
Thousands have marches in protests across Ireland to push back against the massive 300% rise in asylum seekers in the country, as counter-protesters hit back. Over 1,000 are believed to have joined a march in County Donegal's Letterkenny over the weekend, with several hundred having organised a counter-protest. The 'Letterkenny Peaceful Assembly/Protest Against Illegal Immigration' started at the lower end of Port Road, in the town's eastern side, and and concluded at Market Square. Over in Carrickmacross, a similar protest, this one attended by around 800, was launched on Friday, where speakers criticised the Irish government and landlords profiting from housing asylum seekers. Local independent councillor Seamus Treanor said people living in his ward did not feel safe in his own home, given heightened levels of anti-social behaviour. 'I want to get one thing straight - the reason we have a housing problem in this county is because our government opened our borders, and invited the whole third world to come in. 'They came in their tens of thousands, and communities like Carrickmacross are suffering the consequences. 'The so-called opposition are in step with the government, and agree with their policy.' Many were seen waving Irish and Donegal flags in protest against what they believed was a surge of illegal migration to the country. One little girl was seen holding a large sign that read: 'TRAITORS ARE LIVING AMONGST US.' But hundreds of counter-protesters were also present at the Letterkenny march, railing against the anti-migrant sentiment seen across the nation in recent months. The United Against Racism Donegal Group invited speakers, who spoke in favour of inclusion, respect and equality for all, and rejected the incitement to hatred. Cops reportedly managed to watch over the incident without any confrontations, having erected a physical barrier between the two groups. In February, Ireland has exploded into a wave of violence with anti-migrant anger at an all time high - after the number of people applying to come into the country rocketed by nearly 300 per cent in five years. Shocking videos showed Dublin descending into chaos - with fighting thugs throwing themselves into busses, knife fights on their streets and mass brawls sparking in residential roads. In others, men patrol the capital to keep the city 'safe' while police can be seen using riot shields and pepper spray as they crack down on protests. There are now nearly 33,000 international protection applicants being housed across the nation, up from 7,244 in 2017 Cops reportedly managed to watch over the incident without any confrontations, having erected a physical barrier between the two groups As many as 150,000 people moved to Ireland in 2023-24, Central Statistics Office (CSO) figures revealed, the highest number in 17 years. Many of them are being accommodated in poor areas of central Dublin or small provincial towns. Only 30,000 of these were returning Irish citizens. There are now nearly 33,000 international protection applicants being housed across the nation, up from 7,244 in 2017. Alongside arrivals from Africa and the Middle East, 100,000 refugees flocked to the country following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Each costs the nation nearly £70 a day, a figure that has increased by a third in two years. At the end of last year the Irish Refugee Council revealed there were a record 3,001 asylum seekers homeless in Ireland. The budget for housing Ukranian refugees has been slashed from £910million in 2023 to less than £340million this year, with officials saying the reduction is expected to continue. Once sleepy towns are now homes to hundreds of asylum seekers while tent cities have been set up along Dublin's Grand Canal. And with far-right sentiment at fever pitch the country is on a knife edge - with even Ireland's left-wing politicians admitting that the influx of migrants was driving a spike in homelessness. Aoife Gallagher, from the Institute of Strategic Dialogue, who monitors far right activity, has previously said that there has been an escalation in migrants being targeted in Ireland. 'We see consistently, a couple of times every week, horrific attacks on migrants,' she told the BBC. 'We see people standing outside IPAS centres waiting for asylum seekers in order to confront them and intimidate them. 'There's a level of political violence that we haven't seen before.'
Extra.ie
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Extra.ie
Revealed: Three arrested at Dublin protests over weekend
Three people were arrested for public order offences during protests staged in Dublin city centre at the weekend. Thousands attended an anti-immigration protest on Saturday, which began at the Garden of Remembrance on Parnell Square. At the same time, a counter demonstration by United Against Racism was held outside the GPO. Gardaí confirmed three people were arrested for public order offences and added that 'no further information on these arrests is available'. Three people were arrested for public order offences during protests staged in Dublin city centre at the weekend. Photo: Sam Boal/Collins Photos 'No major incidents of note occurred,' a spokesperson for the force said. Thomas Byrne, Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence, speaking on RTÉ Radio 1's This Week programme, said in response to Saturday's demonstrations that the Government has taken 'a fair but quite tough approach to immigration'. When asked if Saturday's anti-immigration protest needed to be listened to, the minister said: 'I think everybody needs to be listened to. Thomas Byrne TD. Pic: Leah Farrell/ 'The reality is that our progress as a country and our economic success as a country has been fuelled by this country becoming more open… and yes, new people coming to this country have contributed to where we are as a country today.' He added: 'That protest… was certainly reasonably significant but it's just a protest. There are far more people being treated in hospitals by migrants than there were at that protest.' In a video filmed in the Garden of Remembrance before the protest, MMA star Conor McGregor, 36, told those leading the march to 'be calm, be clear, speak with dignity'. Conor McGregor. Pic: Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty Images McGregor – who is appealing the verdict reached by a civil jury last November that found that he sexually assaulted Nikita Hand in the Beacon Hotel in 2018, awarding her almost €250,000 in damages – has recently signalled his intention to run in the Irish Presidential election. Dublin City councillors Gavin Pepper, Philip Sutcliffe and Malachy Steenson, along with Fingal councillor Patrick Quinlan, gave speeches alongside a number of anti-immigration activists at the demonstration on Saturday. Thousands of protesters made their way down to O'Connell Street, with many carrying Tricolour flags and a number holding Make Ireland Great Again placards. Shouts and chants included 'Get them out' and, 'Ireland for the Irish'. Attendees at both the protest and counter-demonstration chanted: 'Whose streets? Our streets.'
Irish Independent
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Three arrested after immigration protests as Taoiseach rejects message of ‘narrow nationalism'
Thousands attended an anti-immigration protest on Saturday afternoon, which was met by a counter demonstration organised by the group United Against Racism outside the GPO. There was a significant garda presence along O'Connell Street and Luas services were disrupted as a result. Gardaí have confirmed that three people were arrested for public order offences as they policed a number of public gatherings in the city centre yesterday afternoon. "No further information on these arrests is available. No major incidents of note occurred,' a garda spokesperson said. Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said he 'doesn't accept the negativity from those who spoke yesterday' at the anti-immigration protest in Dublin. Mr Martin attended the Fianna Fáil 1916 Commemoration at Arbour Hill Cemetery this afternoon. Speaking at the event, he said: 'I don't accept the negativity from those who spoke yesterday in respect of where modern Ireland is today.' 'The level of opportunity in modern Ireland is far in excess of anything previous generations experienced,' he added. In a video filmed in the Garden of Remembrance before the protest, MMA fighter Conor McGregor, dressed in a three-piece suit, told those leading the march to 'be calm, be clear, speak with dignity'. He said it was a protest against 'the failure of the Irish government and our full disapproval of it'. ADVERTISEMENT As anti-immigration protesters mentioned the housing crisis, Taoiseach said that housing is 'the big social issue of our day' but the Government is 'focused on solutions to that'. 'We just had a general election. We've had a local election before that, and I think the ballot boxes are the key determinant of the organisation of gets elected into Government. 'We believe we have a stronger set of ideas than perhaps those who articulated yesterday.' During his speech at the event today, Mr Martin said that the '1916 proclamation is an inclusive, internationalist vision, not one that is narrow' and that 'it never had narrow nationalism at its core'. 'We don't believe in a narrow nationalism, and we are part of modern European society. We've been members of the European Union since the early 1970s. It has brought great transformation to the country. We have a thriving economy in Ireland. 'I would be very cautious about those who are advocating – those yesterday and some who would advocate – policies that, in my view, would be detrimental to the future of the country and of our people,' he added. McGregor, who is appealing the verdict reached by a civil jury last November which found that he sexually assaulted Nikita Hand in the Beacon Hotel in 2018 and awarded her almost €250,000 in damages, has recently signalled his intention to run in the Irish presidential election. It is unlikely that he will receive sufficient support to appear on the ballot as candidates need to be nominated by 20 members of the Oireachtas or four local authorities. He was not spotted in the crowd of protestors and he did not return to address the rally when it gathered outside the Custom House. Dublin City councillors Malachy Steenson, Gavin Pepper and Philip Sutcliffe delivered speeches alongside Fingal councillor Patrick Quinlan, while a number of anti-immigration activists were also present. Thousands of protestors walked down O'Connell Street, with many carrying tricolour flags and a number wearing green 'Make Ireland Great Again' baseball caps. Participants held up signs with slogans including 'Irish lives matter', 'Coolock Says No', and 'Ireland is Full'. One banner featured pictures of McGregor, US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Shouts and chants heard during the protest included 'get them out' and 'Ireland for the Irish'. Both the protest and counter demonstration also chanted: 'Whose streets? Our streets.'
BreakingNews.ie
27-04-2025
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Three arrested for offences during anti-immigration protest and counter demo in Dublin
Tens of thousands attended an anti-immigration protest on Saturday afternoon, which began at the Garden of Remembrance on Parnell Square. At the same time, a counter demonstration organised by the group United Against Racism was held outside the GPO. Advertisement Garda headquarters based in the Phoenix Park confirmed that An Garda Síochána 'policed a number of public gatherings in Dublin city centre on Saturday.' There was a significant garda presence along O'Connell Street and Luas services were disrupted for several hours. Gardaí have confirmed that three people were arrested for public order offences and added that "no further information on these arrests is available. No major incidents of note occurred,' a garda spokesperson said. In a video filmed in the Garden of Remembrance before the protest, MMA fighter Conor McGregor told those leading the march to 'be calm, be clear, speak with dignity.' Advertisement McGregor, who is appealing the verdict reached by a civil jury last November which found that he sexually assaulted Nikita Hand in the Beacon Hotel in 2018 and awarded her almost €250,000 in damages, has recently signalled his intention to run in the Irish presidential election. He claimed it was a protest against 'the failure of the Irish government and our full disapproval of it.' Dublin City councillors Gavin Pepper, Philip Sutcliffe and Malachy Steenson and Fingal councillor Patrick Quinlan gave speeches alongside a number of anti-immigration activists who were present. Thousands of protestors made their way down to O'Connell Street, with many carrying tricolour flags and a number carrying Make Ireland Great Again placards. Signs with slogans including Irish lives matter, Coolock Says No, and Ireland is Full could also be seen. Shouts and chants heard during the protest included, 'Get them out', and 'Ireland for the Irish'. Both the protest and counter demonstration also chanted: 'Whose streets? Our streets.'
