Timeline of events that led up to hotel blaze
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9
GOVERNMENT announces that 100 asylumseekers will be provided with accommodation in the Caiseal Mara Hotel.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12
INTEGRATION Minister David Stanton tells Greg Hughes on Highland Radio’s Nine Til Noon Show there will not be any public consultation meetings on the designation of the Caiseal Mara Hotel as a Direct Provision centre.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13
MOVILLE resident Tracey Cullen Sheehan suggests forming a welcome committee for the town’s incoming residents.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16
THE Reception And Integration Agency holds a meeting in Moville, Co. Donegal, to answer questions from locals who are divided over the new centre.
Donegal Now reported Donegal TD Thomas Pringle to have said: ‘The overwhelming support being shown here by Moville residents sends a very important message that this community is ready to step up and support refugees coming in.’
How the State will manage the needs of the community was an issue that was raised, as well as anger at the Government and political parties that make decisions without input from the local community.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 18
FORMER Presidential candidate and Donegal resident Peter Casey tells the Irish Daily Mail that he is strongly opposed to the centre. ‘They are coming in a month’s time and locals find it incredible. It is almost like a 10% increase in the population overnight,’ Mr Casey said. ‘There is no information about where these people are from, whether from Syria or whatever, or with what language they are arriving.’
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 25
A BLAZE breaks out at 4.30am – with one man taken to hospital. Gardaí say there is extensive damage to the hotel. A community meeting is held at 3pm to discuss the situation and to form the welcome committee.
DECEMBER
FIRST arrivals due at the Direct Provision centre.