A teenager was arrested and a garda investigation is under way after an incident in a schoolyard in Dublin's south inner city this week.
According to eyewitnesses, a teenage boy wielding a knife chased a man on to the grounds of St James's Primary School on Basin View lane in Dublin 8, and punched and threatened him, before being confronted by staff at the school who managed to get the boy out of the schoolyard.
The teenager returned with an older woman a few minutes later and shouted obscenities at the man, who is foreign. He also shouted "Dublin 8 says no".
Three weeks ago an encampment was set up close to the school on Basin View, by anti-immigration protesters who are objecting to the opening of a second IPAS centre.
The encampment has remained in place despite confirmation by the Department of Justice two weeks ago that it was no longer considering the site as a potential IPAS centre.
Under tricolours, protesters have hung a large banner which reads 'D8 says no'. This is the name those involved have given to their campaign.
The encampment is close to two primary schools and one secondary school on the narrow city thoroughfare which is nestled between the new children's hospital and the Guinness complex.
Signs have also been hung which say 'Keep our children safe'.
The attack at the school took place shortly before 9am on Wednesday morning and was witnessed by a number of children who had yet to enter the school building, as well as their parents.
According to eyewitnesses the boy shouted about 'paedophiles’ as he attacked the man.
It is understood that the man was waiting outside the school as a friend who was with him dropped off his child.
Gardaí, including the Armed Support Unit, attended the scene and the boy was arrested a short time later and detained before being released.
An Garda Síochána said: "Gardaí attended the scene of an alleged assault and public order incident at Basin Street, Dublin 8 on Wednesday 28th May 2025 at approximately 8.45am.
"A male youth was arrested in relation to the incident. He has since been released and a file will now be prepared for the Garda Youth Diversion Programme."
Under the Children’s Act it is for the Garda Youth Diversion Programme to decide whether or not the file should be sent on to the DPP for prosecution in the courts.
Gardaí say their investigation is ongoing.
The anti-immigration encampment is directly beside and facing the entrance to a second primary school, Canal Way Educate Together.
