A second person has been arrested for public order offences in connection with a Garda car having its tyres slashed during protests at a Clonmel site earmarked to accommodate Ukrainian beneficiaries of temporary protection.
The man is being questioned by gardaí over the incident alleged to have occurred last Tuesday when construction workers moved in to build modular homes for refugees.
In a statement gardaí said that shortly after 11pm on Wednesday, a man was arrested under the Public Order Act at Heywood Road, Clonmel. He was taken to a Garda station in the Tipperary division and has since been charged.
Up to 82 modular homes are to be installed on the site on the Heywood Road in the town which will house Ukrainian refugees. However, protesters claim the units will also be used to house International Protection applicants.
Miriam Lord: Conor McGregor stuns High Court onlookers with evidence about night of alleged sexual assault
Aviva Stadium atmosphere debate: ‘I almost felt self-conscious loudly cheering on Ireland’
Irish woman in line for top White House role under Donald Trump
Area inside Ballyfin Demesne hotel sealed off as crime scene after fatal assault
The most recent arrest follows an arrest of a man on Tuesday who was subsequently charged with assault, criminal damage and public order offences.
The accused has been released on bail with a number of conditions including that he stays away from the Heywood Road and the ongoing demonstrations there.
Several incidents have taken place on the site including a truck being vandalised, equipment set alight and a security guard hospitalised following an alleged assault.
Gardaí added that they respect the “right of citizens to exercise their constitutional rights, however, this right does not extend to breaches of criminal law, interference with the rights of others to conduct their daily activities, or attacks on members of An Garda Síochána”.
“Any Garda activity in relation to these events involves a graduated policing response, considering relevant legislation and public safety, with enforcement as a last resort.”
- Sign up for push alerts and have the best news, analysis and comment delivered directly to your phone
- Join The Irish Times on WhatsApp and stay up to date
- Listen to our Inside Politics podcast for the best political chat and analysis