It’s a miracle no one’s been badly hurt in arson attacks
O’gorman welcomes two arrests in connection with torched buildings
It is important we see full force of the law applied to those undertaking these attacks
RODERIC O’GORMAN INTEGRATION MINISTER YESTERDAY
RODERIC O’gorman said it is “nothing short of a miracle” no one has been seriously injured “or worse” in the arson attacks on rumoured asylum seeker accommodation centres.
As he welcomed the arrests of three people by gardai investigating a fire at the Shipwright pub in Ringsend, Dublin, on New Year’s Eve, the Integration Minister added while his officials will continue to engage with public representatives, it may not stop people intent on arson committing crimes.
Gardai yesterday confirmed the suspects, aged in their 30s and 50s, had been released without charge. Files will now be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Another woman in her 20s was released on Thursday without charge.
Speaking yesterday at the launch of the Green Party’s referendum campaign, Mr O’gorman welcomed the developments in the inquiry.
He said: “I had the opportunity to speak to the Garda Commissioner [Drew Harris] during the week at an event and he outlined to me the ongoing investigations that were taking place in regard to a number of these attacks.
“Subsequent to that, we’ve seen arrests in the context of the attack in Ringsend. I think it’s hugely important that we see the full force of the law applied to people undertaking these attacks.
“It’s criminal. It’s dangerous. It is nothing short of a miracle that no one has been injured or worse in these attacks so far.
“They also obviously make the job that my department has, which is a job to provide accommodation for vulnerable people, far more difficult.
“From my engagement with the Commissioner, I see the seriousness with which gardai are taking this.
“Ultimately, the charges and the designation of charges gardai lay against people is up to them in terms of what they believe they can prove.”
It was put to Mr O’gorman that some of the locations that have been torched were incorrectly identified as asylum accommodation centres.
Asked if his department was going to improve its communications with the public, the minister said that would not deter people intent on committing arson.
He also said the department had been asked repeatedly over the last two weeks if a property in Leixlip, Co Kildare, was going to be used and that it was made “very clear with public reps that came out to us that we weren’t”. It was set on fire earlier this week.
Mr O’gorman continued: “If someone is going to go out and burn a building, what our department does isn’t going to stop that.
“We have to just recognise this – someone who’s made a decision to take a criminal act isn’t going to change their decision because of better communications from our department.”