Gardaí investigating alleged assault on migrants in Dublin park

The alleged racially charged assault of three Sanctuary Runners participants in Poppintree Park in Ballymun has been condemned by People Before Profit Councillor as not representative of the people of Finglas, Ballymun and wider Dublin North West

News Cathal Ryan and Stephen Holland Local Democracy Reporter 12:35, 30 Jun 2026 Updated 17:26, 30 Jun 2026 View Image Poppintree in Ballymun (Image: Google Maps)

Gardaí have launched an investigation following an alleged assault at a park in Ballymun over the weekend.

Officers called to the scene after the report of an alleged assault in the popular Poppintree Park, Ballymun on Saturday afternoon. Footage shows three men in the park over the weekend being approached by the alleged perpetrator of the assault, who is videoing the distressing incident.

The man taking the video repeats a series of allegations against the three men being videoed, slapping one man and pushing another to the ground before kicking him. Gardaí confirmed they are investigating the vicious incident.

A Garda spokesperson stated: "Gardaí responded to reports of an alleged assault in Poppintree Park, Ballymun, Dublin 11 on Saturday, 27 June 2026. Investigations are ongoing."

Ballymun-Finglas People Before Profit Councillor Conor Reddy issued a statement condemning the assault, describing it as “a disgrace”. He claims that three migrant men “were subjected to violent, racist intimidation and false allegations”.

“This is now a well established pattern of false allegations being levelled at people of colour to legitimise intimation - this needs to be challenged and understood," he said.

“Nobody should be subjected to racism, intimidation or threats because of where they come from. Every person who lives in Dublin North West deserves to feel safe in their community and to be able to go about their daily lives in peace and without fear.

“Those who seek to spread hatred and division do not speak for our communities. Finglas, Ballymun and the wider Dublin North West area are home to people from many different backgrounds who live, work and build their lives together. Our strength has always come from solitary, not scapegoating.

“People Before Profit stands in solitary with those who were targeted. We reject racism in all its forms and call on everyone in our communities to stand together against intimidation and hate.

“Everyone who lives here deserves safety, dignity and peace.”

Sinn Féin TD Dessie Ellis and local councillors Anthony Connaghan, Leslie Kane and Edel Moran have also condemned the assault, describing it as "utterly despicable". “There is no justification for such appalling behaviour and these three men were clearly the victims of an unprovoked and racist attack," they're joint statement said.

“The men were subjected to unsubstantiated allegations, which were then used as a justification to intimidate and attack them. This is not the first time that we have seen racist attacks on people and property or that false allegations were used to justify such despicable behaviour.

“As Republicans, we say that there is no place in our communities for such violence or hate, and we condemn this unprovoked assault. Anybody with information with regard to this or other such attacks should contact the Gardaí immediately.”

This content is funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme

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