Locals in Lanesborough, Co Longford have expressed disappointment at a suspected arson attack on a building which was earmarked to accommodate 85 Ukrainian refugees in May.
Lanesborough resident Loretta Gallagher said she was “absolutely heartbroken” by the incident.
“It was all a very happy place ’til this happened and I think everybody in Lanesborough will agree with me, it’s an absolute disgust and a heartbreak,” Ms Gallagher said.
“Poor divils out on the road. Do you think Ukrainians would come here if their country was peaceful? The odd person came to work and that was fine, but they wouldn’t come in their droves. Why would they?
“People want to live in their own countries, you know, peacefully, which, if you have been bombed, you’d want to save your family. You’d walk on coals for them, you know, to keep them safe,” Ms Gallagher added.
“And that’s, you know, I’m so mad that somebody would come to our beautiful town and do such a horrible, horrible thing.”
Local newsagent Joseph O’Brien said he has “grave doubts” that anyone from Lanesborough was involved.
“I don’t know you just don’t know,” he said.
“Everybody has the right to protest, everybody has the right to go out and march or something, but nobody has the right to damage anybody else’s property,” he added.
