Community solidarity gathering to be held in Drogheda following arson attack on IPAS centre

A community solidarity gathering is set to be held in Drogheda on Saturday following an arson attack on a local IPAS centre.

Four children were among the five people rescued from the top floor of a building housing International Protection applicants after it was deliberately set on fire on October 31.

An Garda Síochána announced today that two men have been arrested in relation to the fire, though the investigation is ongoing.

Following the attack, community organisation Drogheda 4 All announced a "show of solidarity" would be held on Saturday, November 8 "to celebrate our town, our communities and all who call Drogheda home."

"People who build communities don't set fire to homes within them," said Drogheda 4 All in an Instagram post.

"People who build communities do not wish harm on our neighbours, co-workers, schoolmates, family and friends. The response by the people of Drogheda to the horrifying events which endangered the lives of active members within our community has been immense.

"There has been an outpouring of love, community and of solidarity through mutual aid. This is the very embodiment of the Irish people’s incredible spirit, resilience and history of welcoming - Céad Míle Fáilte! The best of humanity shines through when we share and celebrate, together, in our wonderful community of Drogheda."

 

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United Against Racism Ireland posted on Instagram in support of the event, encouraging people to "join the outpouring of love and solidarity in Drogheda" and "to show migrants a thousand welcomes!"

"This racist violence shows the hypocrisy of the far right: they claim to be worried about the safety of children, but try to burn babies in their beds," said United Against Racism, adding, "Such an attack doesn’t happen in a vacuum."

United Against Racism said the attack "occurred in the context" of the recent "spoil your vote" campaign in favour of right-wing, anti-abortion presidential candidate Maria Steen, as well as Tánaiste Simon Harris' statement that general migration numbers are "too high."

United Against Racism also cited violent protests outside of an IPAS centre in Citywest in late October. Protestors threw projectiles and fireworks, causing injuries to at least one garda and damage to local residents' properties.

The protest was instigated by online groups after a man was charged in court for the sexual assault of a young girl the day prior. The man in custody for the assault was not living in Citywest Hotel when he was arrested.

According to reporting from RTÉ, local residents decried the disorder and said they were left afraid. The principal of a local school said many children were absent from classes in the days following out of concerns about more violence.

"Irish communities won’t stand for it," United Against Racism said.

 

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People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy posted on X in support of the gathering, writing, "It's up to us in our own communities to stand together against racism and hate."

"It is in the face of the far right and government stirring hatred against vulnerable people in our communities," Murphy said.

"We must push back!"

An important solidarity event this Saturday in Drogheda.

It's up to us in our own communities to stand together against racism and hate.
It is in the face of the far right and government stirring hatred against vulnerable people in our communities.
We must push back! pic.twitter.com/jDFVV05HKO

— Paul Murphy 🇵🇸 (@paulmurphy_TD) November 6, 2025

According to the Garda, initial reports suggested the fire was started by the discharge of fireworks into the building. However, subsequent investigations "indicated that the fire was started deliberately."

"This was an extremely dangerous act endangering the lives of the residents, including children, who were in their home at the time," a previous Garda statement read.

CCTV footage showed a masked man breaking into the building and setting it ablaze. It is understood that an accelerant was poured on the stairs of the building, increasing the size and severity of the fire and blocking a key exit route.

According to locals interviewed by The Sunday Times and RTÉ, the building is not widely known to be an IPAS centre due to the small number of people living there.

Nevertheless, several local community groups acted quickly to support those displaced by the fire. St Vincent de Paul coordinated donations through its Louth Branch and a GoFundMe campaign was launched to help replace the victims' lost belongings.

Ejiro O’Hare Stratton, Drogheda councillor and assistant director of nursing at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital (where some of the individuals rescued from the fire were taken for treatment), praised the courage of local residents following the attack.

"The [residents of the centre] are doing well," Stratton told Drogheda Independent.

"I have been working with them in the community for the last three years. They are shocked by the whole ordeal, but they are doing okay. Of course it will last with them for a long time. It was an absolutely shocking attack but thankfully nobody died. It could have been a lot worse.

"The community of Drogheda has been great and all of the residents have said that since they came to Drogheda they have received nothing but love from locals. The whole community have put their heart and soul into helping these people and we need to focus on that positivity."

Stratton provided an update on the two youngest victims, siblings aged 20 days and 17 months, confirming they are "doing well" after their ordeal.

According to reporting by Irish Independent, a woman affected by the fire said residents of the building "have felt nothing but love for the last two years" and whoever was responsible for the attack "does not represent the people of Drogheda."

In a press release today, An Garda Síochána announced the arrests of two men in relation to the fire. The suspects, both in their 20s, are being detained in Louth on criminal damage offences.

Gardaí said the investigation is ongoing.