There was solely a “skeleton crew” of public order gardaí on responsibility for the FAI Cup last between Bohemians and St Patrick’s Athletic on Sunday which noticed important violence close to the Aviva Stadium.
There have been solely a few dozen devoted public order gardaí on responsibility to police the 37,000 followers who travelled to the Aviva Stadium in Ballsbridge, sources stated.
Earlier video games between the 2 groups have attracted considerably extra policing assets. There has lengthy been a rivalry between the followers of each golf equipment, though critical violence is uncommon.
The violence began when a big group of St Patrick’s Athletic followers who had gathered within the Irishtown Home got here beneath assault by one other group who had been largely sporting black and had their faces coated.
Glass bottles and flares had been thrown into the gang and several other individuals had been assaulted. The home windows of a number of autos parked on the road had been additionally smashed.
A Garda investigation is ongoing and no arrests have been made. Gardaí imagine nearly all of the violence was not carried out by Bohemians followers however quite by a gaggle who had travelled over from the UK. Members of this group are believed to be supporters of a UK group which has a long-standing affiliation with Bohemians.
Followers caught up within the violence criticised the size of time it took gardaí to reply, regardless of Irishtown Garda station being positioned a brief distance away.
“It was over earlier than they obtained there,” stated St Patrick’s Athletic fan Mick Keogh, who was hit with a flare through the violence.
The dearth of devoted public order officers for the sport has additionally triggered anger amongst gardaí. The dearth of officers meant “not one of the public order techniques to fight disturbances may very well be used”, one supply stated.
Flares and bottles
Mr Keogh stated he had been going to St Patrick’s Athletic video games because the Sixties and had “by no means seen something like this”.
He stated he was ordering a drink when he noticed lit flares being thrown into the gang outdoors the pub. “Then a bottle flew previous my head and all hell broke unfastened.
“It was a gaggle of about 30 with their faces coated and never sporting any colors. They got here into the St Pat’s followers and simply began kicking, punching, throwing bottles, throwing flares.”
Mr Keogh stated the bottles had been “raining” in on St Pat’s supporters. Video exhibits a lit flare hitting him within the again. “Fortunately it simply burned my jacket,” he stated.
“I might see a number of individuals being randomly punched and kicked. Earlier than that folks had been singing, individuals had been having time.
“It was horrific. I’ve by no means seen violence like that at a recreation earlier than.”
Mr Keogh stated the perpetrators appeared to have deliberate the violence. “It was completely orchestrated, completely organised. They knew what they needed to do.”
He stated it took at the very least 10 minutes for the Garda to reach, by which period the violence had stopped.
A Garda spokesman declined to touch upon “operational issues” when requested about Public Order Unit numbers.
“The Public Order Unit was supported by different native items who had been working and deployed across the Aviva Stadium as a part of the pre-event preparations. All items responded when the incident occurred and order was shortly restored,” he stated.
In a social media submit, the Irishtown Home thanked patrons “for protecting their integrity and never retaliating”.
The submit added: “It’s unlucky {that a} small variety of individuals need to damage it for everybody else.”
The ultimate was attended by a file crowd of 37,126 individuals, the most important crowd at a recreation between League of Eire golf equipment in additional than 50 years. St Patrick’s Athletic gained 4-3 on penalties.