Gardaí are investigating an arson attack on a building in Leixlip in Co Kildare in the early hours of this morning following rumours linking it to accommodation for asylum seekers.
Honeywood, a seven-bed dormer bungalow, was been badly damaged after it was set on fire before 1.30am.
It is the second such attack this week after a vacant nursing home was burned out in Crooksling, Co Dublin last Sunday.
Gardaí were called to the property in Leixlip along with the fire service who brought the blaze under control.
No one was in the building at the time and no one was injured. The scene has been preserved for a forensic examination.
An incident room has been set up at Leixlip Garda Station and a senior officer appointed to investigate the fire.
Gardaí are appealing to people who were in the Forest Park and Celbridge Road areas between 12.30am and 2am and those with dashcam or mobile footage to contact them.
Gardaí said they have no information that the building was going to be used to house asylum seekers, but protests were held outside the property and an attempt was made last week to burn it out.
Building ‘not under consideration’ for use – dept
The Department of Integration has confirmed that the property was not under consideration for use.
It said “it condemns all acts of intimidation and criminality committed by the small minority who want to sow division in our society”.
“Arson is a very serious crime which carries heavy prison sentences. No one has the right to cause damage to property, to cause fear, or to threaten public order. There can never be justification for such acts, regardless of circumstances or alleged motivation.”
The department urged anyone with any information in relation to these incidents to contact An Garda Síochána.
Social Democrats TD for North Kildare Catherine Murphy said the house that was burned out last night could not have been used to accommodate people seeking international protection because it had been a family home.
She also said that a leaflet claiming this had been circulated in the area last week and it was wrong. She said she had this fact confirmed to her in a parliamentary question.
She also said that another leaflet had also been circulated identifying a second house and claiming it was to be used to house asylum seekers and this too was completely wrong.
The TD said that people in the area had been appalled by the arson attack and were now worried and frightened.
She also said that protests had been held outside the house over the last ten days and these had been attended by named far right and anti immigrant activists.
Mapped: The fires linked to accommodation for migrants
This is the 18th such fire on a premises that was either rumoured, or being considered, to house international protection applicants since January 2023.
Last Sunday a former nursing home Crooksling Co Dublin went on fire.
It is understood gardaí are concerned at the increase in these attacks, and all those being investigated have senior officers appointed to them.
Seven people have been arrested in relation to two of these attacks, and files have been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Over 50 people were arrested last year in relation to suspected illegal activity at anti-migrant protests in Dublin alone.
