On October 21, 2025, a video posted by Richard McDermott on X shows a tense scene outside Citywest Hotel, a facility housing asylum seekers.

Between 200 and 300 protesters, many carrying Irish flags and wearing hoodies or high-visibility vests, faced off against 50–60 Gardaí in riot gear stationed behind barriers. The crowd recorded the events on their phones, with signs of escalating tension visible.

Objects were thrown and flashes seen, with bricks, bottles, and fireworks directed at police. Full-scale clashes did not appear to occur in the footage. The unrest followed allegations that a 26-year-old man connected to the IPAS centre sexually assaulted a 10-year-old girl the day before.

The protest resulted in six arrests and a Garda van set on fire. Political leaders condemned the violence as “thuggery,” while calls for the centre’s closure and the deportation of suspects intensified amid broader concerns over migrant housing and crime.

Cleanup efforts were carried out the following day.