Arrested men suspected of carrying out arson attack at rural hotel

Anti-immigrant rhetoric spread by far right online

Two local men have been arrested on suspicion of carrying out an arson attack in rural Galway on a disused hotel earmarked for asylum accommodation.

Gardaí do not believe the firebombing was carried out as part of a wider criminal conspiracy, but they are investigating if the suspects were influenced by anti-immigrant rhetoric.

The arson at the Ross Lake House Hotel in Rosscahill on December 16 came after concerns were raised locally that 70 asylum-seekers were to be housed at the property.

Detectives from the Galway division and the National Bureau of Criminal Investigations (NBCI) searched a number of properties in the county and arrested four people for questioning yesterday.

Two of those detained are local men, aged in their 40s and 50s, who are being questioned on suspicion of carrying out the arson attack at the hotel.

Two women – including one of the suspect’s partners – were also arrested for allegedly withholding information relating to the criminal investigation.

The women, aged in their 40s and 50s, are not suspected of involvement in the arson attack.

Gardaí do not yet believe there is any direct link between the Galway arson and 20 or so similar attacks on properties around the country in recent months.

Investigators do, however, suspect that in many cases those responsible have been influenced by online commentary against asylum-seekers from far-right agitators.

One source said the arson incidents had slowed down in recent weeks, which may be as a result of highly publicised arrests and charges relating to the fires.

“In many cases there have been arrests. There have been charges and there will hopefully be further prosecutions. The message is that people will be held accountable for these attacks,” the source said.

Under the Criminal Damage Act 1991, the offence of arson carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment in the most extreme cases.

Senior gardaí have also previously warned of the grave risk to life from such crimes, given that security workers have been on-site in some instances where a fire has been started.

Last month Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said all the incidents were being investigated locally, but the Special Detective Unit was overseeing the national investigation for any potential commonality and individuals involved.

“At this moment in time we’ve not seen in effect an overall conspiracy. And a conspiracy has to be something more than four or five fire emojis on an X post,” Mr Harris has said.

He also said the content of a lot of posts on social media were concerning but did not meet the criminal threshold.

The counter-terror unit has also been investigating what Mr Harris said was “not a direct parallel but a close cousin” of these arsons relating to the abuse of politicians, which meets the criminal threshold.

In a statement at the time of the Galway arson, Tao is each Leo Var adk ar said: “I am deeply concerned about recent reports of suspected criminal damage at a number of properties around the country which have been earmarked for accommodating those seeking international protection here, including in Co Galway.

“There is no justification for violence, arson or vandalism in our republic. Ever. Garda investigations are under way.”