Arrest after official buildings damaged in Dublin
A man in his 40s has been detained and each site is being investigated for criminal damage.
Friday 2 August 2024 14:28, UK
A man has been arrested in Dublin after a van drove into the gates of several official buildings.
Police cordons were in place on Friday at Government Buildings, where the department of the Taoiseach is, and at the Irish president's official residence in Phoenix Park, and Custom House, which is home to the Republic's department of housing, local government, and heritage.
Each site is being investigated for criminal damage.
Gates at the Attorney General's office also appeared to have been knocked off their hinges.
A man in his 40s was arrested and a damaged white van towed away from the scene at around 8.20am, Garda said.
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"Gardai were alerted to a single-vehicle road traffic collision on Merrion Street Upper, Dublin 2 at approximately 2.30am on Friday August 2," a statement said.
"The driver of the vehicle, a male in his 40s, was arrested on suspicion of offences under the Road Traffic Act. He is currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 at a Garda station in Dublin city.
"The scene remains preserved to facilitate a technical examination by the local scenes of crime unit this morning.
"Investigations are ongoing."
They added: "Gardai are also investigating an incident of criminal damage that occurred at Dublin's Phoenix Park in the early hours of Friday."
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In relation to the Custom House incident, Garda said: "Gardai in Store Street are investigating a material damage road traffic collision that occurred at Custom House Quay in the early hours of this morning Friday 2 August, 2024."