https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/dublin-news/over-100-guests-barricaded-dublins-17505143Over 100 guests barricaded at Dublin's Red Cow Hotel after an early morning bust-upMore than 16 garda vehicles rushed to the incident that was sparked after a row between two factionsBy Trevor Quinn Darragh Berry
07:00, 3 JAN 2020
NEWS
More than 100 guests were barricaded into a hotel for four hours after an early morning bust-up caused carnage.
Dozens of Gardai tried to contain the massive melee, which spilled onto the Red Cow Moran Hotel car park in Dublin and led to five arrests.
Hundreds of people had been attending a late night event at the west Dublin complex when a row at 12.30am on Thursday led to utter mayhem.
Cops had to baton charge a number of people and several assaults could be seen in videos posted from the scene.
An “intimidated“ English couple, who were staying there but didn’t want to be identified, yesterday said: “It was bad here on [Wednesday] night. It seemed like some sort of main DJ event across in the building the other side of the car park and then it just spilled across here.
“We tried to go out in town and we couldn’t get out. We got told to sit there and stay there.
“We wanted to get a cab and the place was in complete lockdown. The [Garda] helicopter was out and the police were all around there.”
More than 16 garda vehicles rushed to the incident that was sparked after a row between two factions, which continued into the early hours of Thursday morning.
Dozens of gardai tried to deal with the brawl with some members seen giving chase to some of those involved.
The 30-seconds of footage shows lines of garda cars with sirens on parked on the streets near the premises.
The English couple continued: “Nobody knew exactly what was going on, they just said there was fighting and then this morning there was another fight at 12 o’clock.
“We just heard noises and there was a big group of people outside.
“We’ve had a lovely time apart from that. We weren’t in fear, we were probably more intimidated by it.”
A second video obtained by Dublin Live shows scores of gardai entering the car park of the hotel complex and coming in contact with by-standers, some of whom were involved in the melee.
A Garda spokesman said: “Gardaí are investigating a serious public order incident which occurred in a hotel premises.
“A large number of people were attending a music event when a number of altercations broke out among the patrons. Staff subsequently endeavoured to close the venue.
“On arrival at the scene, Gardaí observed crowds of people in the car park of the premises as well as inside the premises.
“There was also a number of people exiting the venue via the Naas Road causing a traffic hazard.
“Additional Garda resources were requested. Gardaí remained at the scene until all attendees had left.
“At approximately 4.40am calm was restored and Gardaí stood down.
“Five people were arrested for Public Order offences including one juvenile.
“One male has been charged in relation to this incident, a female juvenile is subject to a youth referral while the remaining three individuals are subject to further investigation.
“There were no injuries reported and no incidents of criminal damage.
“This incident is subject to an ongoing investigation.”
The hotel were contacted by Dublin Live yesterday, but they declined to comment.
