Sixteen people have been charged following protests in Dublin city yesterday. The charges include possession of a knife, assault and criminal damage. 100 Gardaí were drafted in yesterday evening to deal with anti and pro-immigration protests in the city centre.

Gardaí were required to respond to a number of public order incidents in Dublin during the anti-immigration protest and anti-racism counter-protest on Thursday, September 19.

Hundreds of people gathered in the streets of Dublin on Thursday to take part in an anti-immigration protest. People carrying Irish flags and banners stating, “You’ll never beat the Irish” and “Thornton Hall says no,

Gardaí have kept apart two opposing protests - involving anti- and pro-immigration demonstrators - in Dublin city centre.

Earlier, the rival groups had gathered in the area close to the Dáil. Barriers erected by gardaí prevented any protest activity in the immediate vicinity of the Leinster House building. Gardai form a barrier between protesters and counter-protesters on Grafton Street in Dublin city centre (Brian Lawless/PA) Events began around 2pm at the GPO on O’Connell Street as hundreds of people assembled for the start of the anti-immigration demonstration.