Updated: 12pm
Rioters who wreaked destruction during a night of violence in Dublin brought shame on Ireland, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said, as he vowed to use the full force of the law against them.
Speaking to the media on Friday morning, Mr Varadkar described the estimated 500 people responsible for the disorder as hate-filled, violence-loving cowards.
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris has blamed the violence on far-right “hooligans”.
Thirty-four people were arrested in riots that saw buses and trams burned, shops looted and several Garda vehicles damaged.
Numerous Garda members were injured, one seriously, as over 400 officers were deployed in response to the unrest.
The violence flared after a knife attack on three schoolchildren and a woman outside a school in the north inner-city at about 1.30pm on Thursday.
A five-year-old girl remains in a critical condition in hospital while the woman, aged in her 30s, is in a serious condition.
The two other children, a five-year-old boy and a six-year-old girl, suffered less serious injuries. That girl remains in hospital, but the boy has been discharged.
Gardaí previously said a man who sustained serious injuries at the scene is a person of interest in their investigation.
Politicians and Gardaí have hailed as heroes members of the public who intervened to halt the attacker at the scene on Parnell Square East, including a Brazilian Deliveroo driver.
A clean-up operation was under way on Friday, with burned-out Luas tram carriages lifted off the track by cranes and broken glass and missiles swept off the streets.
Mr Varadkar said Dublin had witnessed “two terrible attacks” on Thursday.
“The first was an attack on innocent children, the second an attack on our society and the rule of law,” he said at Dublin Castle.
“Each attack brought shame to our society and disgrace to those involved and incredible pain to those caught up in the violence.
“As Taoiseach, I want to say to a nation that is unsettled and afraid, this is not who we are, this is not where we want to be, and this is not who we will ever be.”
He added: “Those involved brought shame on Dublin, brought shame on Ireland and brought shame on their families and themselves.
“These criminals did not do what they did because they love Ireland. They did not do what they did because they wanted to protect Irish people. They did not do it out of any sense of patriotism, however warped.
“They did so because they’re filled with hate, they love violence, they love chaos and they love causing pain to others.”
Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said there was “very strong legislation”, including prison sentences of up to 12 years for a conviction for attacking gardaí.
Ms McEntee described it as a “very volatile situation” and said there is a very strong garda presence in Dublin, while online activity is also being monitored.
The scenes visible on the streets of Dublin last night have implications far beyond what people can see.
Giving an update as to how Thursday night's violence impacted HSE services, the health service's chief executive said there were difficulties for ambulance services attempting to navigate the city, while healthcare staff also had issues coming to and from work.
He said a “small number” of patient diversions to other hospitals away from the city centre were necessary, and there was a small rise in Emergency Department attendances at these hospitals as people sought to avoid the city centre.
Five extra crews of the National Ambulance Service were called in to support colleagues in the Dublin Fire Brigade's ambulance service, and the NAS also supported Gardaí with tactical emergency medical supports.
“I want to thank all of our staff for the work they did in very difficult circumstances. Very many are used to working to serve our patients in very difficult circumstances, however street violence adds significantly to the challenge on a number of fronts,” Mr Glouster said.
“We are doing everything possible to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our staff as they go about their work, and I am certainly concerned for them when even a small number of people act with intent on causing violence, harm and disruption.
“The scenes visible on the streets of Dublin last night have implications far beyond what people can see, and this impacts all public services, including healthcare for the majority of law-abiding citizens.”
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) general secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said their “thoughts are with our community in the North Inner City especially those whose lives were turned upside down by yesterday’s violent attack”.
She added: “Nurses and midwives will be very concerned about the racial taunts and attacks that occurred on the streets of Dublin last night.
“We are asking employers to be extra vigilant and conscious of the safety and wellbeing of our members who are not from Ireland.
“They have come to this country to work, to provide a very necessary service, and they need to be absolutely assured of their safety when they go to work.”
