THERE was a tense stand off between gardai and residents of homes in north inner city Dublin last night after 200-300 people were involved in disturbances in the Summerhill area. A car was set ablaze during the incident.
According to gardai, a number of searches for drugs had been carried out by them earlier in the evening and some arrests were made. Following this a large crowd gathered in Summerhill, near the junction of Rutland Street Lower and Mountain View Court, to protest at drug pushing in the area. Gardai said the crowd included a number of people who are well known as vigilantes.
At about 10 p.m. the crowd became violent and threw petrol bombs as well as stones and other missiles. A red Escort car was overturned and set on fire.
Cars were re directed and a number of gardai remained in the area. By 11 p.m. the main section of the crowd had dispersed; however, many of the residents, including young children, remained. About 50 gardai in riot gear then arrived and the situation became tense again. Gardai charged and chased groups of people into Mountain View Court flats.
A four month pregnant woman, who lives on the top floor of the flats, had to be taken away by ambulance alter she was allegedly hit in the stomach during the melee.
Three people were arrested and charged under Section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act following the earlier drugs searches.
Inspector Laurence Barron from Fitzgibbon St Garda Station said: "The occasion demanded that we respond with a number of men and patrol cars. Obviously you know about the car being burned on the street. A situation had developed where the street wasn't open to the general public. We opened the street to the general public and restored calm."
When asked about residents' complaints, he said: "This will always be thrown at the police. We work from a situation where we try to do our best and it often doesn't meet with the consensus of the general public."
Asked about the reaction of the residents to earlier drug searches, he would not comment.