Irish Refugee Council issues statement following Drogheda arson attack

The Irish Refugee Council has issued a statement condemning the "horrific arson attack" on an IPAS centre in Drogheda.

The building, which housed 28 International Protection applicants at the time of the fire, was set alight by an unidentified individual the evening of October 31.

Four young children, including one infant, were among the five people rescued from the top floor. Some occupants were hospitalised with minor injuries following the incident.

The Irish Refugee Council said in a statement on November 2, "If not for the Fire Service, this could have been even more serious."

"Families, children, and babies who have fled war and persecution targeted as they tried to rebuild their lives," the statement read.

"Those responsible are a tiny minority and do not reflect the proud and welcoming spirit and people of the Drogheda community. This appalling incident is another salient reminder of the need for strong leadership — both locally and nationally - to stand against hatred and uphold compassion and solidarity."

 

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Minister of State for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Colm Brophy said yesterday an extensive security review of all IPAS centres will take place in the wake of the "truly shocking" attack.

Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland today, Irish Refugee Council CEO Nick Henderson suggested a security review "should have already happened."

"There's been 30 plus arson attacks against locations proposed to be accommodation centres," Henderson said.

"There's already a track record of arson attacks. We think it should be extensive. There's more than 300 centres across the country, and a security review, looking at the safety and situation of residents is essential."

Henderson added International Protection applicants who are not given accommodation upon arrival in Ireland deserve increased support.

"If it's unsafe for somebody behind bricks, it's certainly unsafe for somebody sleeping in a tent on the canal in Dublin, and that security review should include the situation of people seeking protection or homeless and that policy should end immediately of not giving accommodation to people," said Henderson, adding, "It's simply not safe."

According to An Garda Síochána, initial reports suggested the fire was started by the discharge of fireworks into the building.

However, subsequent investigations "indicate that the fire was started deliberately by person or persons unknown," the gardaí said in a statement.

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

CCTV footage obtained by The Sunday Times 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.

Gardaí believe the break-in and arson may have occurred while fireworks were thrown through a window elsewhere, potentially to cause increased panic.

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

Gardaí are searching for at least one man in relation to the attack. They are also collecting CCTV footage from the surrounding area and inspecting garages in an attempt to identify anyone who may have purchased the petrol used in the attack.

Gardaí have appealed for anyone with any information on the incident, or anyone who may have been in the area at the time, to come forward immediately.

The attack came only days after violent protests outside of a hotel accommodating International Protection applicants at Citywest in Saggart. 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 who wished to remain anonymous decried the disorder and said they were afraid. The principal of a local school said many children were absent from classes in the days following out of concerns about more violence.