“Somebody will be hurt” if fires continue to be set at accommodation centres earmarked for asylum seekers, according to the Irish Refugee Council.
It comes as a fire broke out at the vacant St Brigid's Nursing Home in Crooksling, near Brittas, early yesterday morning.
Dublin Fire Brigade attended the scene at 7am on Sunday with the incident currently being investigated by An Garda Síochána.
The building has recently been the focus of protests after rumours spread that a former nursing home in the area was due to be used for accommodating asylum seekers.
We've been able to scale back the response to the fire at #Crooksling Brittas
4️⃣ Four fire engines remain on scene along with a water tanker and senior officers
🧑🏽🚒 Firefighters will continue to damp down and extinguish hot spots pic.twitter.com/qRhcwh9YNC
— Dublin Fire Brigade (@DubFireBrigade) February 4, 2024
CEO of the Irish Refugee Council, Nick Henderson, said nobody had been charged for any of the more than 20 arson attacks that have occurred at accommodation centres around the country to date.
“Sooner or later, somebody will be hurt or even worse,” he said.
“We’re also very mindful of the people who are seeking protection here at the moment in accommodation around the country.
“They have a degree of fear knowing that there is a minority, a tiny minority, who are willing to go to such lengths.”
The fire near Brittas has now been contained with six fire engines at scene
We've received great support including water tankers from @FireWicklow and assistance from @ESBNetworks
Over 40 firefighters are working at the incident pic.twitter.com/E74vnQyCY0
— Dublin Fire Brigade (@DubFireBrigade) February 4, 2024
A statement from the Department of Integration said that those seeking protection in Ireland “have a right to safety while their application is examined”.
“The Department also strongly condemns any alleged attempts to drive division and hostility towards those who come to Ireland seeking asylum,” they said.
“Acts such as these achieve nothing but endanger people's lives and homes.
“The incident in south Dublin is currently under investigation by An Garda Síochána.”
The scene of a fire in a vacant former nursing home in Crooksling near Brittas, Co Dublin, 04/02/2024. Image: Dublin Fire Brigade.In a statement, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar warned those responsible of the penalties for committing arson.
"There is never any justification for violence, arson, or vandalism,” he said.
“Arson is a serious crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
“It is deeply ironic that some of those who try to link migration with crime engage in serious criminal activity.”
Background checks
He also stressed that background checks are being completed on all asylum seekers entering the country.
"All applicants are registered, fingerprinted, checked against certain databases, and the circumstances surrounding their request for protection are examined thoroughly,” he said.
"Like much of the world and all of Europe, we are dealing with a major increase in the numbers arriving here irregularly.
“Many if not most are fleeing conflict, grinding poverty, climate change, and human rights abuses.
"I believe most people empathise with those fleeing terrible circumstances and recognise the benefits legal migration brings to Ireland."
A suspected arson attack on a building earmarked for asylum seekers occurred in Lanesborough, Longford, just over two weeks ago.
Main image: The fire at St Brigid's Nursing Home in Crooksling. Image: Dublin Fire Brigade.
