Petrol bombs thrown as Dunsink barrier dispute worsens

Two people were arrested last night during disturbances at the contentious concrete barricade at Dunsink Lane in south Finglas, Dublin when two petrol bombs and numberous missiles were thrown at gardaí. Around 150 officers from the Garda Public Order Unit were sent to the scene when troublestarted in mid-evening.

Some 16 Garda transit vans rushed to the scene at around 8.30 p.m. after gangs of local youths became involved in stone throwing with a large group of Travellers at the barricade.

The officers confronted the Travellers who threw rocks and fireworks at gardaí. The gardaí stayed at the scene for around 20 minutes and then withdrew about 200 metres from the barricade, with riot gardaí blocking access to and from the scene for over an hour.

The Garda vans came under sustained attack from local children who continued to throw rocks at them. Two units of Dublin Fire Brigade were called to the scene as a precaution; they were not needed and left after about 20 minutes. Gardaí said petrol bombs and fireworks were thrown during the riot.All roads leading into Ratoath Road remained sealed off by the Garda Public Order Unit last night and mobile patrols by the riot squad, backed by the Garda helicopter.

Members of the Travelling community have vowed to "cause as much disruption as possible" to rush-hour traffic in Dublin this afternoon if the barrier blocking traffic to Dunsink Lane is not removed. Traveller representatives are due to meet officials from Dublin City Council this morning to discuss the barrier. If it is not removed, or a commitment is not given at tomorrow's meeting with the council to move it, widespread protests are planned. Traveller families from sites at Dunsink Lane and Coolock will meet early tomorrow afternoon to discuss their plans.

If they are not satisfied the barrier will be moved, they plan to contact other Traveller families around the city. A spokesman for the Travellers, who did not want to be identified, said: "We'll be asking the different families around the city to pick a road in their area to block in sympathy with what is going on at Dunsink. We want to cause as much disruption as possible while staying within the law.

"We know it will cause disruption to traffic. Even though that is what we are trying to achieve, we would like to apologise to the motorists. But the bottom line is that the barrier has to be removed. It's not acceptable that people are barricaded into their homes, especially when we were not even consulted."

The Travellers plan to protest at Auburn Avenue on the Navan Road at around 4.30 p.m. today, as they did throughout last week. They are also planning to block traffic on the N32, a link road between Clare Hall and the M50 at Coolock.

Last week there were clashes between Travellers and gardaí on the Navan Road as protesters tried to block traffic. On Thursday and Friday, hundreds of uniform gardaí policed the scene, backed by the Garda helicopter, public order unit and mounted unit.