The lives of 99 people took an unexpected turn last Tuesday when the gardai took the unprecedented step of releasing their images to the public.

These images — featuring individuals of white, black and Asian ethnicities — were collected from CCTV footage and social media posts as part of the investigation into last year’s Dublin riots.

Gardai have appealed for public ­assistance to identify the individuals, describing them as persons of interest, in an effort to rule them in or out of the investigation process.

The appeal generated an overwhelming response, nearly crashing the garda website as hundreds of thousands logged on simultaneously. So far, about 56 individuals have been identified, with many turning themselves in voluntarily.

This extraordinary move underscored the crucial role of public co-operation in holding alleged perpetrators accountable for the chaos that unfolded. At the same time, it raised significant questions about the motivations of those involved, the societal tensions underlying the unrest, and the deeper implications for government policy on immigration.