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06 Sept 2025

RTÉ Investigates to show 'chaos' of Coolock anti-immigration riots tonight

'RTÉ Investigates - Inside the Protests' will present footage of a variety of anti-immigration protests over the past 6 months from across the country

RTÉ Investigates to show 'chaos' of Coolock anti-immigration riots tonight

RTÉ Investigates to show 'chaos' of Coolock anti-immigration riots tonight

Reporter:

Sandra Malone

19 Sept 2024 8:47 AM

Tonight, 'RTÉ Investigates' will look at a number of protests against accommodation for migrants that have took place over the past 6 months across the country. 
Barry O'Kelly of 'RTÉ Investigates - Inside the Protests' has been filming on site of the protests for the past six months. The programme will document how strong opposition towards migrants has developed at some of the protests and how at times they got out of hand. 
It will also feature views from protesters, experts on policing and political movements, and individuals developing sites for accommodation.
 
The protest at the former Crown Paints site in Coolock in July was one of the largest anti-immigration protests in the country to date. O'Kelly was present at the site where the protest quickly exploded into riots and his footage will be shown on tonight's broadcast. 
The site entrance was blocked for more than 100 days by protesters who set up camp with wooden huts, couches, fridges and storage areas.
 
The footage shows how the protests became violent and disorderly, documenting the racial abuse and intimidation of workers at the Coolock site. 
Speaking on Morning Ireland earlier, Barry O'Kelly said regarding the 5-hour long riot in Coolock: "the site effectively came under siege."
O'Kelly said that "chaos unfolded" at the site as "security staff were chased and assaulted, and equipment and bedding were set alight."
He said he was shocked at the level of abuse at the protest. He added that RTÉ had made an editorial decision to include some of these distressing scenes captured by O'Kelly.
O'Kelly said: "That decision wasn't taken lightly, but it was felt that in the public interest, viewers can access the nature and see the nature of the aggression and intimidation." 
The protest in Coolock is one of the many anti-immigration protests that will feature in tonight's programme. 
'RTÉ Investigates- Inside the Protests' will air tonight at 9:35pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.

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