Shock at second arson of asylum seeker hotel
Calls for 24-hour Garda presence at building as officers probe whether same gang struck again
GARDAÍ are investigating whether a second arson attack on a hotel earmarked for asylum seekers was carried out by the same gang.
A firebomb was used to cause damage at the Shannon Key West Hotel in Rooskey, on the Roscommon-Leitrim border, shortly after 10pm on Monday.
Five weeks ago, the same hotel was also firebombed and investigations are ongoing into that.
One local Fianna Fáil TD has now called for a 24-hour Garda presence at the hotel.
Following the first arson attack, an anti-racism rally was held near the hotel in Rooskey.
A Garda superintendent in charge said yesterday that those responsible were in the area for a number of days and had been preparing for the attack.
Supt Kevin English added that he was ‘deeply concerned’ about the incident and the danger posed to local people.
He said he was appealing to local residents in Rooskey to come forward and assist gardaí with their inquiries.
Supt English said two security guards and a supervisor had become aware of the efforts to start the fire, and significant damage could have been caused but for their response.
A forensic examination is to be carried out at the hotel after the second attack in less than five weeks on the building.
A window was broken and an attempt was made to start a fire on the premises just after 10pm on Monday.
The alarms in the building went off and security guards in the hotel called gardaí.
Three units of the fire services came to the scene and brought the fire under control.
Less than five weeks ago, gardaí had to respond to an arson attack on the hotel, which is still earmarked to become a reception centre for asylum seekers.
On that occasion, smoke damage was caused, but Monday night’s incident has now raised serious concern in the area.
Gardaí suspect that a firebomb may have been used.
A source said: ‘The concern over this is of course that what happened five weeks ago was not a once-off, that these people have come back again and might be willing to keep doing it if we don’t catch them. There are security at the hotel, it is a very dangerous situation for them.’
Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan said he was ‘concerned and disappointed’ at reports of the arson attack at the hotel.
He said: ‘This pattern of behaviour represents an unacceptable and worrying development and should be condemned by all.’
The Laois TD added: ‘The owners of the hotel had just completed the necessary repairs to the property from the last fire and the damage will now have to be assessed again for the second time this year.’ Eugene Murphy, a local Fianna Fáil TD, has said the fact that it was the second fire at the premises in just over a month was ‘extremely worrying and totally unacceptable’.
Mr Murphy said local residents did not condone this type of activity and were outraged by the fire.
Mr Murphy has called on gardaí to maintain a 24-hour presence at the hotel following the incident.
‘Concerned and disappointed’