Another arson attack targeting asylum seekers
Property was falsely linked to refugees
ARSONISTS targeting asylum seeker accommodation face ‘heavy prison sentences’ following the latest suspected fire attack on a house falsely believed to have been earmarked for use by refugees.
Gardaí have launched an investigation after a sevenbedroom detached house on the Celbridge Road in Leixlip, Co, Kildare, was torched in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
The incident is believed to be the 23rd where a premises linked, or rumoured to be linked, to the housing of people seeking asylum was set alight.
Wednesday night’s fire comes days after a vacant nursing home in Brittas in Co. Dublin was set alight. Demonstrations had been staged at the property recently by people who believed the buildings at Crooksling, off the N81 to Blessington, were to be used to accommodate refugees.
For several weeks, the Leixlipproperty, named Honeywood, has been subject to numerous protests by anti-immigration activists, with the most recent taking place several hours before the arson attack.
However, gardaí and the Government have confirmed that the property was never earmarked to house refugees.
A Department of Integration spokesman said: ‘The property
‘I hope they’re apprehended’
referred to was not under consideration for use by the department. The department condemns all acts of intimidation and criminality committed by the small minority who want to sow division in our society.’
The spokesman added that those responsible for such attacks face significant penalties. He said: ‘Arson is a very serious crime which carries heavy prison sentences. No one has the right to cause damage to property, to cause fear, or to threaten public order. There can never be justification for such acts, regardless of circumstances or alleged motivation.
‘We would encourage anyone with any information in relation to these incidents to contact An Garda Síochána,’ the Department stated.
Gardaí have also acknowledged a significant volume of ‘misinformation, disinformation and rumour’ in relation to the use or proposed use of the building.
‘Gardaí were alerted to a fire at a vacant residential property on Celbridge Road at approximately 1.30am and attended the scene,’ a spokesman said. ‘Local fire services also attended and the fire was brought under control at a later stage this morning.
‘No persons were in the building at the time of the incident. There was substantial damage caused to the property.
‘The scene is preserved pending a full technical examination. An incident room has been established at Leixlip Garda Station and the investigation is being led by a Senior Investigating Officer.’
Any person who was in the vicinity of Celbridge Road and Forest Park between 12.30am and 2am and who observed any unusual activity has been asked to contact gardaí.
Councillor Bernard Caldwell told the Irish Daily Mail that the spate of fires throughout the country is ‘very concerning’. He said: ‘These incidents have caused a lot of worry and anyone with a five or six-bedroom house would be hesitant to put it on the market out of fear it could be falsely linked to [the housing of refugees]. Leixlip is a very respected area with a lot of good things going for it, and we don’t need the likes of people coming in and burning houses down.
‘Whoever these people are, I hope they’re apprehended and brought to justice because this needs to stop,’ he said.
The latest attack is the 19th fire linked to anti-immigrant protests in the last year and the 23rd overall since 2018. The first widely reported arson attack occurred in November 2018 at the Caiseal Mara Hotel in Moville, Co. Donegal.