Case No. 0917Serious public disorder · Co. Dublin · 21 Oct 2025

Three boys charged over serious public disorder in Saggart

Serious public disorder broke out at the Citywest Hotel in Saggart, Co. Dublin, on 21 and 22 October 2025, after a protest outside an accommodation centre for International Protection applicants turned violent, with bricks, bottles and fireworks thrown at Gardaí and a Garda van set on fire. Three Gardaí were injured and hospitalised during the clashes. A total of 36 people have been arrested, including Polish man Karol Piskorski, 44, and Roberto Iafrate, 35, who was charged with violent disorder. Seventeen adults were charged with public order offences and three juvenile males were charged on 7 November 2025, with the investigation ongoing from Clondalkin Garda Station.

  1. Reported21 Oct
    4 reports
  2. Arrested21 Oct
    3 reports
  3. Charged21 Oct
    5 reports
  4. In court22 Oct
    3 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Serious public disorder occurred at the Citywest Hotel in Saggart, Co. Dublin, on 21 and 22 October 2025, following a protest outside an accommodation centre for International Protection applicants.
  • Bricks, bottles, fireworks and rocks were thrown at Gardaí, a Garda van was set on fire, and horses and scrambler motorbikes were used to breach the cordon.
Where
The disorder took place at the Citywest Hotel in Saggart, Co. Dublin, on the Kildare border.
When
The disorder began at approximately 7pm on 21 October 2025 and continued on 22 October.
Cause
The protests began after a 26-year-old man was charged over an alleged sexual assault of a 10-year-old girl on Garter Lane.
Investigation
A criminal investigation is underway under a Senior Investigating Officer from an incident room at Clondalkin Garda Station, with two scenes preserved for forensic examination.
Charges
Seventeen adults were charged with public order offences, Roberto Iafrate was charged with violent disorder, Karol Piskorski was charged with possessing a lock-knife, and three juvenile males were charged on 7 November 2025.
In court
  • Sixteen people appeared in Dublin District Court on 23 October 2025, five men appeared at the Criminal Courts of Justice on 22 October, and the three boys are due before court on 7 November 2025.
  • Roberto Iafrate was granted bail on a €3,000 bond with conditions including daily sign-on and curfew, while the other 15 were remanded on €300 bail.
Other details
  • 36 people have been arrested in total, three Gardaí were injured and hospitalised, and a female Garda was treated in hospital for an injury.
  • The Garda Commissioner condemned the disorder and Luas services to Saggart were suspended.
102 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA public gathering at Citywest in Saggart turned violent when participants attempted to breach the Garda cordon (garda.ie)
  • whatBricks, bottles and fireworks were thrown directly at Gardaí (garda.ie)
  • whatHorses and scrambler motorbikes were used to try to breach the Garda cordon (garda.ie)
  • whatGarda vehicles were burned during the disorder (garda.ie)
  • whatSix persons were arrested (garda.ie)
  • whatOne female Garda received medical attention in hospital for an injury sustained during the disorder (garda.ie)
  • whatPublic Order Units, Water Cannon, Mounted Units and Dog Units were deployed in response (garda.ie)
  • whatSerious public disorder occurred following a public gathering in the Citywest area of Dublin on 21 October 2025. (garda.ie)
  • whatA Garda van was set on fire at Citywest. (extra.ie)
  • whatA group of men tried to break a garda line on horseback. (extra.ie)
  • whatThe incident involved serious public disorder in Saggart, Co Dublin, on 21st/22nd October 2025. (garda.ie)
  • whatIncidents of serious public disorder occurred at public gatherings in Saggart, Co. Dublin, on 21 and 22 October 2025. (garda.ie)
  • what24 individuals were arrested on the evening of 22 October 2025. (garda.ie)
  • whatThree Gardaí were injured and two were taken to hospital for medical treatment. (garda.ie)
  • whatFive male juveniles were released and will be dealt with under the Youth Diversion Programme. (garda.ie)
  • whatTwo adult males were released without charge with files being prepared for the DPP. (garda.ie)
  • what15 scooters and e-bikes were seized during the operation. (garda.ie)
  • whatGardaí were attacked with fireworks and bricks and a garda van was set alight. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatGardaí described attempts to charge police lines using horse-drawn sulkies. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatVideos show a man driving a horse-drawn sulky through the crowd while holding a small child on his lap. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatThe Garda Commissioner condemned a night of violence. (extra.ie)
  • whatThree gardaí were hospitalised. (extra.ie)
  • whatSixteen people have appeared in court on public order charges linked to disturbances at Saggart. (rte.ie)
  • whatGardaí released body-cam footage showing violent and disorderly protests at the Citywest Hotel. (kildarenow.com)
  • whatProtesters were seen throwing bricks and bottles at gardaí. (kildarenow.com)
  • whatA person on horseback was seen wading through the crowds in an attempt to intimidate gardaí. (kildarenow.com)
  • whatSignificant criminal damage has been caused since Monday evening. (kildarenow.com)
  • whereThe disorder impacted the local community, business and public transport in the Saggart area (garda.ie)
  • whereThe clashes took place outside the Citywest complex near Saggart. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereThe unrest was near an accommodation centre for International Protection applicants in Dublin. (rte.ie)
  • whereThe unrest took place at the Citywest Hotel. (extra.ie)
  • whereThe disturbances took place at Saggart in County Dublin. (rte.ie)
  • whereThe protest was at the entrance to an Ipas centre in Citywest. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereThe incident is described as the Citywest riots. (extra.ie)
  • whereThe unrest occurred during a protest outside an accommodation centre at Citywest in Co Dublin. (rte.ie)
  • whereThe public disorder took place at the Citywest Hotel in Saggart. (kildarenow.com)
  • whenThe incident occurred at approximately 7pm on 21 October 2025 (garda.ie)
  • whenThe offences were alleged to have occurred in west Dublin the previous night. (rte.ie)
  • whenThe unrest was on a second night. (extra.ie)
  • whenThe investigation covers public disorder events on Tuesday 21 and Wednesday 22 October. (kildarenow.com)
  • whenFurther disorder occurred on 22 October. (rte.ie)
  • whenThe public disorder took place over 21 and 22 October 2025. (kildarenow.com)
  • causeProtests began after a 26-year-old man was charged over an alleged sexual assault of a young girl on Garter Lane. (thejournal.ie)
  • causeHundreds of people gathered at the hotel after a 10-year-old girl was sexually assaulted. (kildarenow.com)
  • weaponRocks, bottles and fireworks were thrown at gardaí. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationA criminal investigation is underway under the direction of a Senior Investigating Officer (garda.ie)
  • investigationAn investigation is being led from an incident room at Clondalkin Garda Station. (garda.ie)
  • investigationTwo scenes remain preserved for forensic and technical examination. (garda.ie)
  • investigationA full policing and security operation remains in place at the scene. (garda.ie)
  • investigationInvestigations into the incident are ongoing. (garda.ie)
  • investigationThe horse incident has been reported to gardaí. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationThe judge was told there was no CCTV evidence. (rte.ie)
  • investigationSeveral people were arrested. (extra.ie)
  • investigationCCTV footage showed Roberto Iafrate throwing bricks, traffic cones and glass bottles at the Public Order Unit at Citywest. (rte.ie)
  • investigationGardaí are reviewing CCTV images and body worn camera footage to identify persons involved in criminal activity. (kildarenow.com)
  • investigationForensic examinations are being carried out at a number of locations. (kildarenow.com)
  • investigationGardaí are seeking to identify the ringleaders behind the Citywest riots. (extra.ie)
  • investigationGardaí carried out additional searches and arrested three boys. (rte.ie)
  • investigationThe arrests bring the total number of people arrested in the investigation to 36. (rte.ie)
  • investigationInvestigators carried out further searches under warrant in south Dublin and arrested three juvenile males. (kildarenow.com)
  • investigationThe total number of people arrested in this investigation is now 36. (kildarenow.com)
  • investigationGardaí appeal for information on those involved and ask people to contact the Garda investigation team at Clondalkin Garda Station. (kildarenow.com)
  • chargeFive adult males, two in their 50s and three in their 40s, were charged with public order offences. (garda.ie)
  • chargeTwo men, a male juvenile in his teens and a man in his 40s, have been charged. (garda.ie)
  • charge17 adults were charged with public order offences. (garda.ie)
  • chargeFive men were charged with various offences following the unrest. (rte.ie)
  • chargeKarol Piskorski was charged with possessing a lock-knife with a blade at Fitzmaurice Road, Rathcoole, on 21 October. (rte.ie)
  • chargeThe other four men face charges under the Public Order Act. (rte.ie)
  • chargeRoberto Iafrate was charged with violent disorder after gardaí objected to bail. (rte.ie)
  • chargeOne man was charged with violent disorder. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeThe three boys have been charged. (rte.ie)
  • courtFive males appeared before the Criminal Courts of Justice on 22 October 2025 (garda.ie)
  • courtThe five charged men were scheduled to appear before Court 3 at the Criminal Courts of Justice, Dublin on 22 October 2025. (garda.ie)
  • courtBoth are due to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice at 4:30pm on Saturday 25 October 2025. (garda.ie)
  • courtThe 17 charged adults were due to appear at Court 3, Criminal Courts of Justice, Parkgate Street, on 23 October at 10:30am. (garda.ie)
  • courtFive men appeared in court in connection with the riot. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe five men were granted €150 cashless bail each at Dublin District Court. (rte.ie)
  • courtBail conditions included a ban on going to Citywest, Saggart and its environs for the duration of the prosecutions. (rte.ie)
  • courtPiskorski was ordered to appear again on 19 November. (rte.ie)
  • courtMr Meaney, Mr Jennings and Mr Molloy will face their next hearings on 20 November at Tallaght District Court. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe five men will appear again in November to enter pleas. (rte.ie)
  • courtJudge Paula Murphy granted Roberto Iafrate bail on a bond of €3,000, with €1,000 to be lodged in cash. (rte.ie)
  • courtRoberto Iafrate must sign on daily at Rathcoole Garda Station. (rte.ie)
  • courtRoberto Iafrate was placed under curfew. (rte.ie)
  • courtRoberto Iafrate must be available on a mobile phone at all times, abstain from social media and not participate in any protests. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe other 15 people were remanded on their own bail of €300 after consenting to conditions. (rte.ie)
  • courtSixteen people appeared in Dublin District Court on various public order offences linked to the riots. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe three boys are due to appear before court later on the day of publication. (rte.ie)
  • otherSix individuals were arrested and brought to Garda stations within the Dublin Region. (garda.ie)
  • otherA female in her 50s was released without charge and a file will be prepared for the DPP. (garda.ie)
  • otherA female Garda was injured in the course of the incident, received hospital treatment, and was discharged. (garda.ie)
  • otherThe Justice Minister condemned the protest. (extra.ie)
  • otherA policing and security operation remains in place at Citywest. (garda.ie)
  • otherRoberto Iafrate was seen standing on a wall urging protesters to move further towards gardaí. (rte.ie)
  • otherOn Tuesday night, six people were arrested and one garda was injured following clashes. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherTwenty-three people were arrested and two gardaí were injured in violent disorder on the previous night. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherLuas services to Saggart were suspended due to public disorder near the Citywest hotel. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe crowd at the protest dispersed before 10pm on 23 October. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherGardaí say there has been a significant impact on the local community and services in Saggart and Citywest. (kildarenow.com)
  • otherGardaí appealed to young males and others not to get involved in public disorder. (kildarenow.com)
  • otherAnyone with information is asked to contact Clondalkin Garda Station. (kildarenow.com)
  • otherThe three juveniles are detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at Garda stations in the Dublin Region. (kildarenow.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 7 Nov2025
    BREAKING: Gardaí confirm 35 arrests in relation to public disorder on Kildare border

    Reports three further arrests of juvenile males in the Citywest Hotel public disorder investigation, with the total now 36. The headline says 35 arrests, which differs from the 36 stated in the body text. No existing case covers this incident.

    suspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, male
  2. 7 Nov2025
    Three boys charged over Saggart disorder last month

    Adds that the three boys arrested in the additional searches have been charged and are due before court, and gives the total arrests as 36.

    accused, teens, maleaccused, teens, maleaccused, teens, male
  3. 26 Oct2025
    Gardaí seek to hunt down ringleaders behind Citywest riots

    Article body is missing and contains only template code. The headline says gardaí are seeking the ringleaders behind the Citywest riots, which appears to match the existing Citywest Hotel public disorder case. No date, arrests or other details are given.

  4. 23 Oct2025
    WATCH: Gardaí release shocking body-cam footage of violent protests near Kildare border

    Adds body-cam footage of protesters throwing bricks and bottles at gardaí, a person on horseback in the crowd, the investigation's review of CCTV and body-worn camera footage, forensic examinations, and appeals to the public and to parents and community members. Does not add arrest figures.

  5. 23 Oct2025
    Gardaí maintain strong presence as Citywest protest passes peacefully this evening

    Reports 23 arrests and two gardaí injured in violent disorder on 22 October, sixteen court appearances on public order offences, and one man charged with violent disorder. Says the protest on 23 October passed peacefully and that Luas services were suspended due to the disorder.

    accused, male
  6. 23 Oct2025
    16 people charged in court over Citywest disturbances

    Adds that 16 people, not only the 3 arrested earlier, have been charged and appeared in court. Gives the charges, the court's bail and remand decisions, and the bail conditions for each group.

    accused, Roberto Iafrate, 35, named, non-irish (judged from name)Roberto Iafrateaccused, Tom McMechan, 66, named, irish (judged from name)Tom McMechanaccused, Sean Comerford, 23, named, irish (judged from name)Sean Comerfordaccused, Bridget Cash, 21, named, irish (judged from name)Bridget Cashaccused, Karl Burke, 34, named, irish (judged from name)Karl Burkeaccused, Joseph Cox, 18, named, irish (judged from name)Joseph Coxaccused, John Cox, 58, named, irish (judged from name)John Coxaccused, Bartosz Jaroszewski, 18, named, non-irish (judged from name)Bartosz Jaroszewskiaccused, David Noonan, 51, named, irish (judged from name)David Noonanaccused, Evan Lydon, 23, named, irish (judged from name)Evan Lydonaccused, Mircea Varga, 38, named, non-irish (judged from name)Mircea Vargaaccused, Ashley McNally, 19, named, irish (judged from name)Ashley McNallyaccused, Evan Freeman, 23, named, irish (judged from name)Evan Freemanaccused, Mark Farley, 44, named, irish (judged from name)Mark Farleyaccused, Eamon Cox, 29, named, irish (judged from name)Eamon Coxaccused, Peter O'Malley, 18, named, irish (judged from name)Peter O'Malley
  7. 23 Oct2025
    Three gardaí hospitalised following second night of unrest at Citywest Hotel

    Headline only: reports that three gardaí were hospitalised after a second night of unrest at Citywest Hotel. The body text is template code with no details. Matched to the existing Citywest public disorder case on the basis of the same hotel and unrest.

    victimvictimvictim
  8. 22 Oct2025
    Garda Commissioner condemns night of violence at Citywest as several arrested

    Article body is missing; only the headline is available. It reports a night of violence at Citywest, the Garda Commissioner's condemnation, and several arrests, which appears to match the existing Citywest public disorder case.

  9. 22 Oct2025
    Five men charged following Citywest unrest

    Names five men charged over the unrest, gives the charges, bail terms and next court dates, and says there is no CCTV evidence.

    accused, Karol Piskorski, 44, male, Polish, named, non-irishKarol Piskorskiaccused, Mark Molloy, 53, male, named, irish (judged from name)Mark Molloyaccused, Darren Monks, 50, male, named, irish (judged from name)Darren Monksaccused, Vincent Meaney, 48, male, named, irish (judged from name)Vincent Meaneyaccused, Graham Jennings, 39, male, named, irish (judged from name)Graham Jennings
  10. 22 Oct2025
    ‘Someone will die if this continues’: Animal welfare charity slams use of horses in Citywest riot

    Adds that gardaí were attacked with fireworks and bricks and a garda van was set alight, that horse-drawn sulkies were used against police lines, that a charity condemned the use of horses, and that five men appeared in court in connection with the riot.

    accused, maleaccused, maleaccused, maleaccused, maleaccused, malesuspect, malevictim
  11. 22 Oct2025
    Update 4 – Court Appearances - Serious Public Disorder, Saggart, Co Dublin – 21st / 22nd October 2025

    Update 4 detailing arrests, charges, and dispositions following the Saggart public disorder incidents, including court listing at the Criminal Courts of Justice on 23 October 2025.

    suspectsuspect, malesuspect, malevictim
  12. 22 Oct2025
    Update 9 Court Appearance - Serious Public Disorder, Saggart, Co Dublin – 21st / 22nd October 2025

    Confirms both detainees have been charged and are due to appear at the Criminal Courts of Justice at 4:30pm on 25 October 2025; investigations remain ongoing.

    suspect, teens, malesuspect, 40s, male
  13. 22 Oct2025
    Citywest: Group of men tried to break garda line on horseback

    Only the headline is usable; the article body is template code. The headline's Citywest location and garda line fit the Citywest public disorder case (12165), so it is matched as a followup. No date, arrest or charge is stated in the supplied text.

    suspect
  14. 21 Oct2025
    Justice Minister condemns protest as Garda van set on fire at Citywest

    The article body is missing; only the headline is available. It adds that a Garda van was set on fire at Citywest during a protest, which matches the existing Citywest public disorder case. It mentions no arrests.

  15. 21 Oct2025
    Court Appearances - Serious Public Disorder, Saggart, Co. Dublin – 21st October 2025

    Garda press release confirming five men charged with public order offences and one woman released without charge following public disorder in Citywest, Dublin; a female Garda was injured and treated in hospital.

    accused, 50s, maleaccused, 50s, maleaccused, 40s, maleaccused, 40s, maleaccused, 40s, malesuspect, 50s, femalevictim, female
  16. 21 Oct2025
    Statement from Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly on the serious public disorder in Saggart, Co. Dublin, yesterday, 21st October 2025.

    Statement from Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly describing the violent disorder, the Garda response including Public Order Units, Water Cannon, Mounted Units and Dog Units, the six arrests, and the ongoing criminal investigation.

    suspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, malesuspectvictim, female