Gardaí shut down accusations of officers escorting school children past migrant tents

Gardaí have rubbished accusations of officers escorting school children past asylum seekers' tents in Dublin. 

It comes following the circulation of a video on social media of Gardaí walking with students past the Grand Canal in Dublin. 

In the video, the students can be seen walking by a fenced off area where unaccommodated asylum seekers previously stayed in tents. 

Over 100 tents were removed last week in a multi-agency operation, however dozens of tents have since appeared back in the area since then. 

Several social media users have shared the video and accused An Garda Síochána of escorting children due to an alleged danger posed by the occupants of the tents. 

No instances on asylum seekers attacking locals in the area appear to have been reported, however, Gardaí are reportedly investigating claims that a number of tents were damaged on the night of Saturday May 11. 

It comes as the State faces a worsening accommodation crisis for people arriving in Ireland. 

According to An Garda Síochána, officers walked with young pupils on a school trip due to a number of major junctions and crossings on the route, as well as quick change lights. 

A Garda statement released on X (formerly Twitter) today (May 15) reads: "An Garda Síóchána categorically rejects any assertion that Gardaí are actively escorting, or have in recent days escorted, school children past a tented encampment along the Grand Canal, Dublin. 

"An Garda Síochána is acutely aware of the continued proliferation of disinformation but also broader society as well as media. 

"Our Community Policing Unit in Pearse Street regularly engage with local schools and will continue to assist with their activities - in this instance, we walked with almost 100 young pupils on a school trip across the city as there were a lot of major junctions and crossings on the route. 

"Gardaí assisted by making sure that the young children did not get separated and that they were safe given the quick change in lights at some of the crossings. 

"This is commonly undertaken by those working in this Community Policing Unit to provide assistance to a number of the schools in the area in a similar way, and they will continue to do so."