Far-right riot in Dublin, Ireland, following the stabbing of multiple people in 23 November 2023.
The November 2023 Dublin riot was the most violent in modern Irish history, prompting major changes to policing powers and public order laws.
Key Facts
- Estimated property damage
- Up to €20 million
- Peak crowd size
- 500 people
- Gardaí deployed
- ~400
- Gardaí assaulted
- ~60, three seriously injured
- Arrests on the night
- 34
- Riot duration
- Approx. 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
On the afternoon of 23 November 2023, Riad Bouchaker stabbed three young children and a care assistant outside a primary school on Parnell Square East, critically injuring a five-year-old girl. Within hours, far-right activists exploited social media and messaging apps to inflame public anger over immigration, drawing a crowd of 100–200 anti-immigrant demonstrators to Parnell Square by 5 p.m.
Beginning around 6 p.m., demonstrators threw fireworks, flares, and bottles at Gardaí maintaining a cordon around the crime scene. Violence escalated to O'Connell Street, Capel Street, and Parliament Street; a Garda car and Luas tram were set alight; Dublin Bus vehicles were destroyed; and multiple shops were looted. Around 400 Gardaí—including Ireland's largest-ever riot-gear deployment—were dispatched to disperse the crowd by 10 p.m.
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris attributed the riot to a far-right faction, while calls for his resignation and that of Justice Minister Helen McEntee followed. McEntee survived a Dáil vote of no confidence. The government borrowed water cannons from the PSNI, passed legislation enabling police body cameras, and announced plans to extend the use of tasers and pepper spray across the force.
Political Outcome
Far-right riot dispersed; 34 arrested on the night; government introduced expanded policing powers including body cameras, water cannons, tasers, and pepper spray; Justice Minister survived no-confidence vote.