Six people have been arrested by gardaí after housing activists were removed from a Dublin city centre property.

The demonstrators, who had been occupying the property at 34 North Frederick Street for the last three weeks, were evicted from the property on Tuesday evening following an order from the High Court.

Various images shared on social media show a number of armed Gardai wearing masks, as well as private security men wearing balaclavas.

Labour Justice spokesperson, Séan Sherlock TD, has called on new Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris, and the Minister for Justice to explain the heavy handed tactics used.

"While we must respect court decisions, the tactics used in removing peaceful protesters who occupied a property on North Frederick Street that had lain empty for a number years must be explained," he said.

"This is a critical test for the new Garda Commissioner Drew Harris, and I am calling on him to explain the level of co-operation and heavy handed tactics used last night, and identify at whose request the action was carried out, and who those masked men in balaclavas were.

-- Advertisement --

"Reports indicate that men in balaclavas arrived alongside members of the Garda public order unit. The private security were in an unmarked van with no number plate on the front, and a British registration on the back. Members of our police force were also wearing face masks.

"It would appear that the private security hired also did not comply with the Private Security Services Act as they were not wearing any ID to indicate the name of their employer. Such a breach of the law in a co-ordinated operation must be explained.

"The Commissioner should outline how this operation was co-ordinated and at whose request and why such military style tactics were used. Further, I would expect the Minister for Justice to comment on the type of tactics used, and whether he supports this type of intimidatory policing, and if he is comfortable with men in balaclavas carrying out forced evictions."

Sinn Féin justice spokesperson, Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire, said the accounts he has heard and what he has seen on social media are "very concerning".

"It certainly gives an impression of a heavy handed, overreaction to a peaceful Housing occupation," he said.

"I have received reports of private security arriving in unmarked cars, being escorted in by armed gardaí, and also reports of protestors being threatened with pepper spray. I have also received reports of an injured protester.

"If these accounts prove to be correct, then this constitutes an absolutely disproportionate response.

"It is important that it is clarified whether the security firm who the gardai were facilitating had the appropriate documentation of identification, and under what legal basis they were there."

Image credit: Take Back The City.

(LM/CM)