Gardaí probe incident at Rooskey asylum seeker hotel

A GARDA investigation is under way into an incident at a hotel earmarked for direct provision which was targeted in an arson attack last month.

Last night, emergency services responded to reports of a possible fire at the Shannon Key West Hotel in Rooskey on the Leitrim-Roscommon border.

Gardaí were alerted to the incident at around 9.45pm and a short time later the scene was cordoned off.

The hotel has been allocated to house 82 asylum seekers but has caught fire twice in a one month period.

Last month the currently disused building was set alight in a late-night arson attack which caused damage to the inside of the building.

The exact circumstances of last night’s incident have not yet been established, but a garda investigation is underway to establish what occurred at the hotel.

Senior officers attended the scene last night and a probe will be led by Gardai based at Carrick-on-Shannon.

Last November it emerged that the hotel – which closed in 2011 – was in line to become a reception centre for up to 82 refugees.

Asylum seekers were set to be accommodated at the former hotel last month, but the property is also at the centre of a sale dispute before the High Court.

Speaking at the scene of the fire last month, Supt Kevin English said that incident was being treated as suspicious.

Gardai have confirmed that a security guard was on the premises when the fire broke out and raised the alarm.