Steel barriers and a visible garda presence remain in Citywest days after the violent protests that erupted in the southwest Dublin village of Saggart.
The main entrance to the Citywest complex was open to people on foot only.
A 26-year-old man has been charged in connection with a sexual assault of a ten-year-old girl near the Citywest Hotel.
What was initially planned as a peaceful vigil on Tuesday became violent.
Some 2,000 people attended the demonstration which turned violent while An Garda Síochána had a 300-strong presence.
Nicola Maguire, who was raised in Saggart, went to the Citywest complex to light a candle on Tuesday.
"Words fail me to describe what actually happened and what I witnessed.
"It was one of the most frightening experiences of my life," Ms Maguire said.
"I was running a bit late from work, so I went in and ran down very quickly and was planning to meet people down there.
"I walked through the gates of Citywest to where everyone was standing and it was only when I settled myself that I realised I did not recognise one single person around me."
Ms Maguire said that the majority of the people around her were men, she was standing beside one other woman when she began to see people puling balaclavas over their faces.
"It all just became like a movie set in the worst possible way," she said.
Ms Maguire is not sure how long she was in the complex for, but she eventually left and moved up the village, toward her home.
She was trying to stop curious children from going down to the hotel to see what was going on.
A little later, Ms Maguire and another local noticed a girl standing at the bus stop, she went over to her to tell her that she wouldn't be able to get a bus tonight.
"This girl was in a terrible state," Ms Maguire said.
"She'd never been to Saggart before, she was absolutely petrified.
"And she was petrified because of the colour of her skin. She didn't feel safe."
Ms Maguire was trying to reassure the woman that they would help her to get home safely.
Seeing the riot squad arrive into the village added to everyone's fear.
Like many Saggart residents, Ms Maguire feels that the Government are not listening to the concerns of the locals.
She said it is not true to say that the Government have had numerous conversations with the people of Saggart.
Earlier this week, she wrote a letter to the Taoiseach, seen by RTÉ's This Week, in which she writes: "For months, the residents of Saggart have engaged only in peaceful protest, and yet we have received no support, no dialogue, and no acknowledgment from you or your party.
"You have chosen to ignore us."
Like a lot of residents, Ms Maguire said that she was angry, but she stressed it is anger without "any violent intentions".
"It's anger that we have been ignored for so long," she said.
Insufficient engagement with community, say residents
Parish priest Father Joseph Ryan lives less than 200 metres from the main entrance to the Citywest complex in Saggart.
"I went down [on Tuesday] to have a snoop and see what was going on," he said.
"To see the crowds, to see the tear gas, to see the petrol bombs, whatever it was that was going on, I didn't stay too long. I turned and came back very quick," he said.
Anne Sullivan has lived in Saggart for seven years.
The mother of two, is a member of the Saggart Guardians, which were campaigning for the Government not to purchase the Citywest complex. She has also attended several peaceful protests outside the Citywest complex.
Like other residents, Ms Sullivan believes that there has not been sufficient engagement by the Department of Justice or Government with the community in Saggart in relation to the Citywest complex.
When asked about why she thinks the protest became violent on Tuesday, Ms Sullivan said she couldn't speak to that.
Watch: Gardaí release bodycam footage of disorder in Citywest
"I came down here on Tuesday evening. I had a candle in my pocket to light, leave and walk back to my home on Tuesday night."
Ms Sullivan said she never lit that candle, instead she walked home when she saw the protest was not peaceful.
"I felt fear [on Tuesday evening] ... you have to accept that there is an issue in order to evoke change. This is not about having your amenity back or having your hotel back and having your gathering spot back.
Saggart is a small village with a main street containing a handful of shops, a church, school, pub, restaurant and chipper. According to the 2022 census, it is the 'youngest' small town with an average age of just over 30.
The village has more than doubled its population between the 2011 and 2022 censuses.
"It really has increase since the Luas came," said Enda Roche, who has lived in Saggart since 1959.
Ms Roche said she and other residents had warned the Government that an incident such as the alleged assault on Monday would fuel what is going on at the moment.
"We warned them," she said.
Restaurant owner unsure when she can reopen
Around 1,200 people are currently accommodated in the hotel facility in Citywest, the vast majority of whom are Ukrainian refugees.
In the Transit Hub, also located on the Citywest campus, 460 adults are currently being accommodated there.
Since November 2024, Citywest is where families have their International Protection applications processed. While many don't stay there, it is their first destination on arrival in Ireland.
The Citywest complex also contains an independently operated restaurant.
Just before 6pm on Tuesday evening, Camilla Grey, the operator of the Lemongrass Fusion restaurant in Citywest, was told by her landlord Tetrarch that the business had to close.
Ms Grey does not know when she will be allowed to reopen the 200-seater restaurant.
Before last week, Ms Grey said that business was down significantly in the past year.
She said the restaurant being on the Citywest campus has received a "mixed reaction" from the locals.
"Some people are still trying to support the restaurant, still trying to support me," she said.
"A lot of others have been very direct and vocal in their refusal to come onto the campus.
Independent councillor Francis Timmons said that the violent protests earlier this week are "not good for the village".
