Five of the almost 100 people highlighted by gardaí this morning as "persons of interest" in relation to the Dublin riots last year have been identified following a public appeal.
Gardaí have said there has been a "very significant public response" to the appeal for information.
It came after detectives gathered more than 17,000 hours of CCTV footage, which they say is still being reviewed following the violence in the city centre on 23 November last year.
From the analysis of this footage, gardaí had identified 99 "persons of interests", who they say they want to talk to, in order to either rule them in or out of the investigation.
They said these people were present in the city centre and played a role in the events which took place, but they had yet to be identified.
Following the identification of five people, their images have been removed from the public gallery.
In a statement, gardaí said that they were not confirming the role any of these individuals played on the night of 23 November 2023 and added that "it should not be presumed that identification means criminal involvement in these events".
The officer leading the investigation, Chief Superintendent Patrick McMenamin, has rejected suggestions the investigation has been too slow and insisted that gardaí have to gather the evidence and adhere to due process.
The release of the images comes a year after the riots in Dublin city centre during which more than 60 shops and businesses were attacked and looted.
Buses and garda cars were burned out, transport was disrupted and 13 gardaí were injured.
Chief Supt McMenamin said that while gardaí accept the riots damaged the reputation of Dublin all over the world, it did not damage An Garda Síochána's reputation because, he said, order was restored within a few hours of the riots breaking out.
Gardaí also insist they will continue to pursue all those involved and have asked those who know anyone in the images or those who recognise themselves to contact them.
Over 1,100 statements have been taken and more than 500 lines of inquiry have been pursued.
So far, 57 people have been arrested and more than 150 charges have been preferred.
Fourteen people have been convicted at the District Court.
Declan Donaghey, from William Street, has been convicted of arson and criminal damage and is due to be sentenced tomorrow.
Chief Supt McMenamin said if people recognise themselves they should contact gardaí, and added that he expects further arrests in the investigation.
The images are available on www.garda.ie. Heavy traffic on the site caused issues accessing it this morning.
Our statement on An Garda Síochána publishing photos of 99 "persons of interest" in connection with the Dublin riots. pic.twitter.com/OdhERMJ8cp
— Irish Council for Civil Liberties 🏳️🌈 (@ICCLtweet) November 19, 2024
Publication raises concerns about people's right to presumption of innocence - ICCL
The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) has said that while issuing photos is common practice, the scale of the publication is "unprecedented" and is "essentially outsourcing of police work".
In a statement, the ICCL also said gardaí must be in compliance with various laws including data protection and the publication raises questions and concerns about people's right to presumption of innocence and right to a fair trial if charged with a crime.
