A “small hard-core” of far-right protesters staged an anti-immigration demonstration outside the home of Taoiseach Simon Harris in Co Wicklow on Thursday night.
The group displayed anti-immigration posters while standing outside the house in Greystones, Co Wicklow where Mr Harris lives with his wife and two young children.
Elements of the same group have been involved in numerous protests in recent weeks, including at a protest in Newtownmountkennedy last week which ended in clashes between demonstrators and gardaí.
They were also present at a site in Crooksling earmarked for asylum seeker accommodation and at a demonstration outside the home of Minister for Integration Roderic O’Gorman during which banners were hung on the fence.
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At least one of those present outside the Taoiseach’s home on Thursday was investigated by gardaí for alleged involvement in the Dublin riots in November, in particular an incident where a garda car was set on fire.
The group has also protested outside the homes of people involved in providing commercial services relating to asylum seeker accommodation.
Speaking in Belfast, Mr Harris said people’s families and homes “should be out of bounds”.
Addressing media outside Stormont Castle on Friday morning, Mr Harris said it was “bedtime” for his children when the group gathered outside his Co Wicklow home.
Mr Harris was in Northern Ireland for the first time since being appointed Taoiseach and met First Minister Michelle O’Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly.
When asked to comment on the protest, he told reporters: “I don’t like describing those sorts of things as protest”.
“I have a very clear view in relation to this whether it’s me whether it’s an opposition politician, whether it’s, it’s quite frankly, anybody. I always think people’s families and people’s homes should be out of bounds,” he said.
“It was bedtime for my kids last night when this situation arose. I don’t think it’s appropriate.”
Ms O’Neill condemned the incident and told media it was “totally inappropriate”.
“The Taoiseach has two young kids, and I think your home should be your sanctuary,” she said.
Several of the group who gathered outside the Taoiseach’s home have been subject to limited garda surveillance in recent months.
“This is a small hard-core of demonstrators who show up at nearly everything. They’re mostly smart enough not to get caught up in anything that could get them arrested.”
Gardaí are increasingly concerned about threats to politicians from elements of the far right. Last week, gardaí evacuated the family home of Minister for Justice Helen McEntee following a bomb threat.
Gardaí are also investigating graffiti stating “Paul Murphy RIP” near the home of the People Before Profit TD in Tallaght last week.
Last year, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris ordered at Cabinet that ministers receive armed garda protection.
Mr Harris’s home has been targeted by demonstrators on several occasions.
An image from Thursday’s incident shows protesters with their faces obscured blocking the driveway of the Taoiseach’s home. Mr Harris was at a funeral and not at home at the time but his wife and children were present.
Gardaí were called to the house and the demonstrators dispersed. No arrests were made.
In a statement, An Garda Síochána said it received a report of a gathering outside a private home in Greystones shortly after 7pm on Thursday.
“Those present gathered for a duration of less than 10 minutes before leaving the area. An Garda Síochána is investigating all the circumstances of this incident,” it said.
Asked to respond to Daily Telegraph reports that the UK government has offered Ireland the chance to join its controversial Rwanda migrant scheme, Mr Harris rubbished the story, branding it “more satire than news”.
Mr Harris insisted that Ireland had its own policy in relation to migration and “indeed will seek to advance migration policy through our membership of the European Union”.
He called for calm “after the week that it has been” amid the ongoing row between London and Dublin over claims of an upsurge in asylum seekers crossing from Northern Ireland into the Republic.
“There’s a need for a bit of a deep breath,” he told reporters outside Stormont Castle.
“We have a Common Travel Area between the two islands. It’s been in place for a very long time when both countries were in the European Union and it’s still in place now when one country has left the European Union.”
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