Some 11 people have been arrested in connection with arson and criminal damage attacks targeting asylum seeker accommodation in the last 10 months.
The figures were revealed at an Oireachtas Justice Committee hearing on the spate of arson attacks around the country in recent months.
Gardaí told the committee that there is a “significant amount of mis and disinformation” circulating when it comes to asylum seeker accommodation – and a number of the properties targeted were never earmarked for asylum seekers at all.
Deputy Garda Commissioner Shawna Coxon said there is currently nothing to suggest there is any “over-arching conspiracy” behind the attacks but noted investigators were ‘keeping an open mind based on the evidence”.
Right-wing
She said Gardaí are monitoring right-wing groups as part of their investigations.
“Certainly, there is coordination through the investigations across the country,” she said.
“But there is also an intelligence-gathering process with respect to all investigations, some of which is pro-active regarding these groups and what they do.
“It is one thing to have a right-wing sentiment, it is another thing to take action.”
She said each arson attack sparks a major Garda investigation; however, they are difficult to investigate as evidence can often “literally, be burnt to cinders”.
Anti-immigration
Separately, the committee heard that the number of anti-immigration protests in Dubin more than doubled last year.
Assistant Garda Commissioner Angela Willis said the force was increasing the number of officers trained in public order in response.
“One measure in relation to an increase in behaviour associated with sentiment around anti-migration and anti-immigration is if we look at the numbers of protests we have had,” she said.
“In 2022, we had just over 300 protests recorded in the DMR (Dublin Metropolitan Region) alone.
“By 2023, they had increased over 100%, up to 617 protests.”
She said the number of gardaí trained in public order tactics in the Dublin region has doubled to 619.
Main image shows a house damaged in a suspected arson attack in Kildare, 07-02-2024. Image: Newstalk
