An Garda Síochána says it had no prior warning of the violence that erupted on Dublin's O'Connell Street on Saturday and it has not concluded whether or not it was orchestrated or pre-planned.
Minister for Justice Michael McDowell yesterday released a summary of the briefing he has received from the Garda Commissioner in the wake of the violence.
This shows that Garda management had decided on a low-key approach to policing the event, and would increase their presence only in reaction to an apparent growing threat from protesters.
The briefing from the commissioner points out that despite six meetings between senior gardaí and Dublin City Council or the contractor working on O'Connell Street to discuss the security of building materials, these had not been secured. Most of the missiles thrown at gardaí came from this site.
The briefing also revealed that the Garda helicopter developed technical problems on the day of the march and could not be used. A Garda light aircraft was deployed above the city centre instead.
Some 348 gardaí were on duty in the city centre for the march. These included uniformed gardaí, public order personnel as well as officers from the Garda Mounted Unit, dog unit and air support unit.
Gardaí considered and ruled out using water cannon. As the violence escalated an extra 138 gardaí from other divisions were brought in as reinforcements, as well as another Public Order Unit of 47 members.
"Uniform and public order unit personnel were briefed on the need for proportionality in any action which might be taken and that gardaí would adopt a graduated response to the action of protesters," according to the briefing given to the Minister.
The document published by Mr McDowell yesterday details a series of meetings between senior gardaí and leaders of Fair (Families Acting for Innocent Relatives) to agree details of the event.
William Frazer of Fair had said victims of republican violence would lead the protest. While the Orange Order was supporting it, they would not wear their colours. There would be six bands which would neither play "sectarian music" nor carry paramilitary flags.
They would carry Ulster and union flags, while victims would carry pictures of loved ones. Their ultimate aim was to hand a letter into Leinster House and to Mr McDowell.
Senior gardaí met Fair representatives at Parnell Square four days before the march.
Garda intelligence indicated that Republican Sinn Féin and the Continuity IRA intended to mount a counter demonstration in the form of a sit-down protest to prevent the rally from going ahead. The Department of Justice received an anonymous letter saying the Continuity IRA would target the rally.
On the day, just 50 RSF members gathered at Parnell Square at 11am, with 16 of these going to Talbot Street to lay a wreath at the monument to those killed in the Dublin and Monaghan bombings.
Some 350 members of Fair arrived at Parnell Square at 12.10pm. As they prepared to move off, "it became apparent that disorderly elements on O'Connell Street were confronting gardaí at the Parnell monument in a manner likely to disrupt the parade.
"The RSF group of protesters at the Parnell monument was joined by a large number of youths from nearby public houses."
Counter demonstrators had begun assembling at the top of O'Connell Street, where the Parnell monument is situated, from noon. They chanted abuse and threw bricks, golf balls, stones and eggs at gardaí.
The Garda Public Order Unit was then deployed to quell the disturbance, and came under constant attack with the crowd throwing missiles, fireworks and smoke bombs at them.
Three gardaí were injured and brought to hospital, and the Chief Supt decided that in the interests of safety he would not allow the march to proceed on the preferred route. Fair agreed to travel in their buses to Kildare Street where they would march and hear speeches.
At one stage two petrol bombs were thrown at gardaí, with one hitting members of the Public Order Unit. Gardaí drove marchers down O'Connell Street to the Henry Street junction. Looting of shops began and two mopeds and two bicycles were set on fire. Garda chiefs then ordered a baton charge.
Some 300 rioters then made their way towards the Dáil and, while clashing with gardaí en route, also set fire to four parked cars and broke windows in 12 different premises.
An investigation team has now been established at Store Street Garda station to conduct a thorough criminal investigation into the violence.