Ireland Case No. 6008Public order offences · Co. Wicklow
Four charged over disturbances at proposed accommodation centre in Newtownmountkennedy
On Thursday 25 April 2024, clashes broke out between gardaí and protesters opposing a proposed international protection accommodation centre at River Lodge, also known as Trudder House, in Newtownmountkennedy, Co Wicklow. Six people were arrested that evening, including a male juvenile who was released without charge. Michael Synnott (56), Shane Synnott (19), Ben McNulty (41) and Sharon McCann (38) were charged with public order offences, and some reports say five people were charged in total. On Friday 26 April they appeared before Bray District Court, were granted bail, and the case was adjourned to 9 May 2024.
- Reported25 Apr
- Arrested26 Apr
- Charged26 Apr
4 reports - In court25 Apr
2 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Violent clashes broke out between gardaí and anti-refugee protesters at a proposed accommodation centre in Newtownmountkennedy, Co Wicklow.
- Rocks and other missiles were thrown at gardaí, and fires were lit outside the site, including an attempt to burn a small outhouse-type premises.
- Garda vehicles were damaged, with windows smashed and tyres slashed; three patrol cars were reportedly damaged.
- Reports differ on injuries: some say members of An Garda Síochána were injured, while gardaí said at the time of reporting they were not aware of any injuries.
- When
- The disturbances took place on Thursday 25 April 2024, on Thursday night into Friday morning.
- Where
- The disturbances took place outside River Lodge, also known as Trudder House, a disused children's home outside the village of Newtownmountkennedy.
- Cause
- Protesters were objecting to the proposed use of the building as accommodation for international protection applicants.
- Weapon
- Gardaí recovered an axe, and an axe was used to smash the windows of a garda vehicle.
- Investigation
- Six people were arrested on Thursday evening, including a male juvenile, for alleged offences under the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994.
- Charges
- Most reports say three men and one woman were charged with public order offences under Section 8 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, and another man was charged under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997; some reports say five people were charged and one account refers to a single man charged.
- The four people before court were named as Michael Synnott (56) and Shane Synnott (19) of Newtownmountkennedy, Ben McNulty (41) of Newtownmountkennedy, and Sharon McCann (38) of Wicklow.
- Other details
- The male juvenile was released without charge, and a referral to the Youth Diversion Project is being prepared.
- In court
- Four people appeared before Bray District Court on the afternoon of Friday 26 April 2024.
- Judge Nicola Andrews granted all four bail on their own bond with a €1,000 cash lodgement and a curfew between 8pm and 8am.
- The case was adjourned to Bray District Court on Thursday 9 May 2024 at 10.30am, and further charges may be brought later.
83 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe incident was a serious public order incident. (garda.ie)
- whatMultiple Garda Public Order Units were sent to clashes between anti-refugee protesters and officers. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatRocks and other missiles were thrown on Thursday evening. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatFires were lit outside the site. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThree garda patrol cars were damaged, including broken windows and slashed tyres. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe Garda Commissioner said there were very unacceptable scenes at the protest. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatGardaí were attacked at what was described as an anti-refugee protest in Wicklow. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatMembers of An Garda Síochána were attacked with stones. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatAn attempt was made to burn a small outhouse-type premises. (dublinlive.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- whatRubble and stones were thrown from fields at gardaí. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatProjectiles were thrown at gardaí. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatGardaí were attacked with stones. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whatThe tyres of another garda car were slashed. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatSix arrests were made during violent clashes between gardaí and protesters. (irishtimes.com)
- whatBy 7pm a mob showed aggressive behaviour and set fires with intent to cause criminal damage to property. (irishtimes.com)
- whatMembers of An Garda Síochána were injured. (irishtimes.com)
- whatGarda vehicles were damaged, windscreens smashed and tyres slashed. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe incident took place in Newtownmountkennedy, Co Wicklow. (garda.ie)
- whereThe incident took place at a site in Newtownmountkennedy, Co Wicklow, reportedly earmarked to house refugees. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe incident took place outside a premises in Newtownmountkennedy, reportedly set to house refugees. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe demonstration turned violent in Newtownmountkennedy. (dublinlive.ie)
- whereThe incident took place outside a premises in Co Wicklow earmarked for accommodation of refugees. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereGardaí on duty outside the premises at Newtownmountkennedy came under attack. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe fire was at a site earmarked for international protection seekers in Wicklow. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe incident happened in Co Wicklow. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe disturbances took place at a proposed accommodation centre for international protection applicants in Newtownmountkennedy, Co Wicklow. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe incident occurred on 25 April 2024. (garda.ie)
- whenThe incident happened on Thursday night. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe incident took place on Thursday evening. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe protest took place the night before the article was published. (dublinlive.ie)
- whenThe attacks on gardaí happened the night before the article was published. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenSix people were arrested on Thursday evening after the fire at a site in Newtownmountkennedy. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe clashes happened on Thursday night. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe disturbances on Thursday night into Friday morning were described as large-scale. (irishtimes.com)
- causeWorkers contracted to carry out work on the site entered River Lodge. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeThe protesters were objecting to the proposed use of a local building as accommodation for international protection applicants. (irishtimes.com)
- weaponGardaí recovered an axe during the incident. (irishmirror.ie)
- weaponA patrol vehicle's windows were smashed with an axe. (dublinlive.ie)
- weaponA garda vehicle was damaged with an axe. (irishmirror.ie)
- weaponOne vehicle was damaged with an axe. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationA garda spokesperson said the incident was ongoing and no further information was available. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationSix people were arrested for alleged offences under the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe six arrested people were detained at Garda stations in Wicklow. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationSix people were arrested. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe individuals before the court were arrested during the demonstration. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationFurther charges against them may be brought at a later stage. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThree men and one woman were charged and were to appear before the District Court. (dublinlive.ie)
- chargeOne man was charged under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 and the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1997. (dublinlive.ie)
- chargeThree men and one woman were charged with alleged public order offences. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeAnother man was charged with alleged offences under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThree men and one woman were charged with alleged offences under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 and the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1997. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThree of the men and the woman were charged with offences under the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe other man was charged with alleged offences under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 and the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1997. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe four people were charged with public order offences contrary to Section 8 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act. (irishtimes.com)
- courtA woman and three men are due to appear before Bray District Court. (garda.ie)
- courtThe court appearance is set for the afternoon of Friday 26 April 2024 at 2.30pm. (garda.ie)
- courtFour people were due to appear in court on Friday afternoon. (irishtimes.com)
- courtInspector Niall Kennedy told Bray District Court of a series of disturbances outside River Lodge, also known as Trudder House, a disused children's home outside the village of Newtownmountkennedy. (irishtimes.com)
- courtBail conditions include a curfew between 8pm and 8am. (irishtimes.com)
- courtAll four were granted bail on their own bond with a cash lodgement of €1,000. (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Nicola Andrews granted all four bail and adjourned the case to Bray District Court on Thursday, May 9th, at 10.30am. (irishtimes.com)
- otherDozens of reported protesters, many with faces covered or hoods up, shouted outside a gate at the site. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherProtesters pulled at temporary fencing and attempted to scale railings, with a pallet bonfire burning in the background. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherOfficers were hit with debris while moving protesters back. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherPepper spray was deployed by gardaí. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherDamage was reportedly done to garda squad cars. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe site had been the subject of an arson attack about two weeks earlier. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherGardaí on duty at the premises came under attack by people gathered there. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherUniformed gardaí were subjected to verbal and physical abuse during the day. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherGardaí used force, including incapacitant spray and public order gardaí in helmets and shields. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherGardaí were not aware of any injuries at the time of reporting. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherTrespassers had been identified on and removed from the site the night before. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherOne male juvenile was released without charge. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherA referral will be prepared for the Youth Diversion Project for the juvenile. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherA juvenile male arrested over the incident was released without charge and a referral to the Youth Diversion Project is being prepared. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherSix people were arrested over the incident. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherGarda cars had their tyres slashed and damaged. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherTánaiste Micheál Martin condemned what he described as an attack on the members who attended the scene. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherFour men, one woman and a male juvenile were held overnight in Garda stations in Wicklow. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe juvenile is to be referred to the Youth Diversion Project. (irishtimes.com)
- otherGardaí described an attempt to burn a small outhouse-type premises. (irishtimes.com)
- otherGardaí had to be present to allow workmen to carry out lawful business on the site. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe level of violence was described as aggressive, prolonged and extremely dangerous. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 26 Apr2024Four charged in court following disturbances at proposed international protection centre in Newtownmountkennedy
Names, ages, addresses, the charge under Section 8 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, a description of the disturbances, Garda injuries and vehicle damage, possible further charges, bail terms and the next court date. The article does not state the incident date.
accused, Michael Synnott, 56, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Synnottaccused, Shane Synnott, 19, named, irish (judged from name)Shane Synnottaccused, Ben McNulty, 41, named, irish (judged from name)Ben McNultyaccused, Sharon McCann, 38, named, irish (judged from name)Sharon McCann - 26 Apr2024Newtownmountkennedy protests: Taoiseach condemns ‘thuggery’ after violent clashes with gardaí at site earmarked for asylum seekers
Adds the arrest numbers, the charges under the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act and the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, and the Garda account of stones, an axe and an attempted fire. No existing case covers this incident.
accused, maleaccused, maleaccused, maleaccused, femaleaccused, malesuspect, male - 26 Apr2024Micheál Martin condemns 'attack' on Gardaí attending Wicklow fire
Adds the charges laid after six arrests, the offence legislation cited, and political reaction from the Tánaiste, Taoiseach's office and Justice Minister.
accused, maleaccused, maleaccused, maleaccused, female - 26 Apr2024Five charged following attacks on gardaí at proposed refugee site in Wicklow
Reports five people charged, three men and one woman with public order offences and another man with Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act offences, and a juvenile released without charge. Adds details of the attack, including an axe used on a Garda vehicle and tyres slashed.
accused, maleaccused, maleaccused, maleaccused, femaleaccused, malesuspect, malevictim - 26 Apr2024Garda boss slams 'unacceptable scenes' after 6 arrested at Wicklow protest
The article contradicts itself on charges: it first says three men and one woman have been charged, then says one man has been charged and one male juvenile released without charge. It does not account for the sixth arrested person. The existing case list has no match: case 5949 concerns a different incident at Aughrim on 29 April.
accused, maleaccused, maleaccused, maleaccused, femalesuspect, male - 26 Apr2024Six arrested as garda cars damaged and fires lit outside site set for refugees
First report of the incident. Six people were arrested for alleged public order offences, and the article gives no names, ages or sexes for them.
suspectsuspectsuspectsuspectsuspectsuspect - 25 Apr2024Gardai respond to public order incident at site reportedly set to house refugees
Early report of the incident: describes clashes with protesters, damage to garda squad cars, debris thrown at officers and pepper spray used. Gives no arrests or charges.
- 25 Apr2024Court Notification - Serious Public Order Incident - Newtownmountkennedy, Co.Wicklow - 25th April 2024
Garda court notification confirming a woman and three men are due before Bray District Court on 26 April 2024. This is four people, whereas case 6011 records five people charged.
accused, femaleaccused, maleaccused, maleaccused, male