In November 2018, a hotel in the coastal Donegal town of Moville was set on fire. The Caiseal Mara Hotel, which was reportedly earmarked to house more than 100 asylum seekers, was set alight when the owner was inside in the early hours of the morning.
Since then, an analysis by Prime Time shows there have been at least 23 fires set at properties or locations linked, or rumoured to be linked, to the housing of people seeking asylum or international protection. This includes the most recent reported incident in Leixlip overnight on Tuesday into Wednesday.
In recent months, there has been a marked increase in such attacks. Across 2023 there were at least 13 incidents, but 10 of the 23 total incidents have occurred in the three months since November.
So far in 2024, there have been four fires reported at properties that were linked to housing people who are officially categorised as international protection applications (IPAs) or beneficiaries of temporary protection (BOTPs).
Over the years, certain properties have been targeted more than once; in some places there have been multiple fires within a local area.
Several locations have been the site of protests.
In response to questions from Prime Time, An Garda Siochána said “the majority of public gatherings and persons attending them are peaceful and their intent is peaceful.”
However, the statement issued also noted “such gatherings, and in effect those persons attending them, are used by a small minority with extreme and potentially criminal and dangerous intent to spread misinformation, disinformation and fake news.”
Of the 23 fires, nine have occurred in Dublin. All the fires mapped by Prime Time in Dublin occurred after January 2023.
The incidents outside Dublin began with the arson attack on the hotel in Donegal in 2018.
Incidents outside Dublin
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Caisel Mara Hotel, Moville, Donegal, November 2018
An arson attack took place in a hotel in the coastal Donegal town of Moville in November 2018. It was reported at the time that the Caiseal Mara Hotel had been earmarked to house more than 100 asylum seekers, when it was set on fire.
The owner of the hotel, who was inside the building when it was attacked, was taken to hospital. The owner’s daughter told the Irish Independent at the time that the family had received threats leading up to the fire, after it became known it would be housing asylum seekers.
Shannon Key West Hotel, Rooskey, Roscommon, January 2019 & February 2019
The Shannon Key West Hotel in Rooskey on the Leitrim/Roscommon was twice set on fire in early 2019. It was due to open as accommodation for 80 people when it was first targeted.
Gardaí said at the time that they suspected the first attack was planned days in advance, and that the suspected perpetrators had been monitoring the premises leading up to the fire being set.
It remains closed.
Tesco, Ballinamore, Leitrim, October 2019
A Tesco supermarket in Ballinamore, Co Leitrim was the target of a suspected arson attack in October 2019.
The supermarket is attached to a 25-unit apartment complex hat was set to house more than 100 IPAs.
CCTV of the incident showed a person pouring petrol outside the entrance to the Tesco store underneath the apartments, though the resultant fire did not cause any major damage.
Morning Ireland reported from the town in early 2024 and spoke to some of the asylum seekers who have since moved into the apartments.
Sinn Féin TD’s car, Aughavas, Leitrim, November 2019
Sinn Féin TD Martin Kenny was targeted in a suspected arson attack in November 2019. Mr Kenny’s car was set alight in the driveway of his family home a week after he said he had received death threats following a speech he made about asylum seekers in the Dáil.
Mr Kenny and his family have since sold their home and moved. That came after another incident in September 2022, in which a car was crashed through their electric gates.
A 49-year-old man appeared before the courts charged with damaging the gates and dangerous driving.
Nobody has been arrested over the burning of the car, according to the Sinn Féin TD.
Kill International Equestrian Centre, Kill, Kildare, November 2022
Five units of Kildare Fire Brigade were needed to put out a fire at a disused equestrian centre in Kill, following a suspected arson attack. The Kill International Equestrian Centre was set to house up to 350 Ukrainian BOTPs.
The fire was set at a building adjacent to the main equestrian centre. Part of the equestrian centre has since been repurposed and currently houses at least 100 Ukrainian BOTPs.
Prime Time understands that no arrest was made in relation to the fire.
Lisfannon, Buncrana, Donegal, May 2023
A building owned by former presidential candidate Peter Casey was the target of an arson attack in the Lisfannon Business Park area, outside Buncrana, on the 11 May last.
The premises was to be used to house up to 50 people displaced by the war in Ukraine.
In the aftermath of the incident, Mr Casey took to X, formerly Twitter, to say: “So last night, my ‘not for profit’ centre for Ukrainian refugees in Buncrana, was broken into and severely damaged by fire.”
On 24 July 2023 Mr Casey submitted planning permission to Donegal County Council to change the use of the building from office space to eight apartments.
The Sailor’s Rest, Buncrana, Donegal, May 2023
Unlike most of the suspected arson attacks listed, an incident at the Sailor’s Rest in Buncrana occurred while there were already up to 50 people living at the emergency accommodation centre.
CCTV footage of the incident captured an individual throwing an object at the front of the building on Monday 15 May. The owners of the centre said the footage shows there was a clear attempt to throw a firework through an open window on the roof of the building, but it exploded on the roof instead.
The footage was handed over to Gardaí and Prime Time understands that an investigation was opened, but no arrests have been made.
Gaelscoil Uí Ríordáin, Ballincollig, Cork, July 2023
A former primary school building in Ballincollig was the location of a suspected arson attack on 28 July 2023. It was reported by the Irish Examiner that Gaelscoil Uí Ríordáin, which had been lying empty for several years, was to be repurposed to house 94 Ukrainian BOTPs.
Gardaí launched an investigation at the time. Prime Time understands that no arrests have been made in relation to the fire.
Abbeyville House, Fermoy, Cork, November 2023
A homemade petrol bomb was thrown at Abbeyville House in Fermoy, a listed building, on 22 November. Abbeyville House was undergoing renovation and adaptation works at the time of the incident.
A letter from the Department of Integration to representatives of Fermoy Municipal Council confirmed the former B&B was due to house up to 56 people seeking international protection.
Anti-immigration protests are ongoing outside the building. Minimal damage occurred, amid some reports in local media that several protesters extinguished the fire.
Site of the old Great Southern Hotel, Rosslare, Wexford, November 2023
The site of the former Great Southern Hotel was the target of a suspected arson attack on 30 November. The site, which was originally set to become a nursing home, was sold in August.
The new owners had agreed with IPAS (International Protection Accommodation Services) that it would be used as an accommodation centre.
The Department of Integration has said that about 170 asylum-seekers are set to be housed at the site. A forklift truck was damaged in the incident.
A proposed mediation between the developer of the site and a local protest group was due to be held in mid-January but it was decided at a public meeting to postpone any mediation talks until after An Bord Pleanalá has made its decision regarding alleged planning breaches at the site in Rosslare Harbour.
Ross Lake House Hotel, Roscahill, Galway, December 2023
The Ross Lake House Hotel was the target of a suspected arson attack on 16 December. The 13-bedroom building, dating back to 1860, was due to house up to 70 asylum seekers, according to the Department of Integration.
The hotel was largely gutted in a blaze that was condemned by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar who said, “there is no justification for violence, arson or vandalism in our Republic. Ever.”
Gardaí carried out four searches at properties in the Rosscahill area in January, saying a number of items that will be subject to analysis had been seized.
Convent, Lanesborough, Longford, January 2024
A former convent in Lanesborough, that was set on fire on 16 January, had been earmarked for accommodation for Ukrainian arrivals, according to the Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council.
Fires were lit at two entrances to the building in the late evening but were quickly extinguished soon after.
Minimal damage was caused but the owner of the building subsequently pulled out of the agreement to house up to 85 people.
Michael Nevin of Longford County Council’s Humanitarian Response Team told a meeting of the council that the property’s owner decided on the move “for his own safety” and “his family’s safety.”
Leixlip, Kildare, February 2024
A building Leixlip in Co Kildare was set on fire in the early hours of 7 February.
Gardaí said they were investigating an arson attack at Honeywood. They said they did not know if the seven-bed bungalow was due to be used to accommodate migrants.
Gardaí say 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.
Dublin incidents
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The first incident in Dublin believed to be linked to anti-immigration sentiment occurred in Sherrard Street, in Dublin’s north inner city.
Sherrard Street, Dublin, January and November 2023
Rawlton House, a long-empty former boys’ school built in 1899 on Dublin’s Sherrard Street was set on fire on 30 January 2023. The suspected arson attack followed posts on social media that said the building was being set up with “beds and cubicles for refugees.”
The Department of Integration at the time said that the building had not at that stage been examined for use to accommodate refugees or international protection applicants.
However, some local representatives said they understood that it was on a list of locations to be considered as potential sites by the department.
In November 2023, four masked men entered the building, which had been renovated after the first fire, and it was set alight again.
Afterwards, concerns were raised by local representatives about the safety of any prospective residents.
Local representatives said their understanding is the site will not be used by the Department of Integration in future.
Prime Time asked the Department of Integration a number of questions to clarify the level of consideration that was given to the use of Rawlton House, but no direct response was provided.
Sandwith Street, Dublin, May 2023
Tents and other items belonging to asylum seekers in a makeshift camp in a laneway on Dublin’s Sandwith Street were set on fire on 12 May 2023. It followed clashes between protesters and counter-protesters, which saw the two groups separated by public order gardaí.
At least one arrest was made in relation to the disturbances under the Public Order Act. After the demonstrations had ended, emergency services were called to the fire in the laneway.
The Irish Refugee Council called for asylum seekers to be taken off the streets with immediate effect following the incident.
Ridge Hall, Ballybrack, Dublin, August 2023
On 14 August, a fire was lit at a large vacant house in Ballybrack, which local representatives said had been offered as a potential location to accommodate people seeking refuge. Gardaí said they were treating the incident at Ridge House as “suspected criminal damage”.
Anti-immigration protests had taken place at Ridge Hall in July, and it was reportedly significantly damaged by water because of an earlier disturbance before it was damaged by fire.
Prior to the fire, at least one local representative had written to constituents to say that the building had been offered by the owner to the Department of Integration “as being potentially suitable for females seeking international protection.”
Prime Time asked the Department of Integration if the building was ever directly considered for use as accommodation for migrants, but no specific response was provided.
O’Connell Street Upper, Dublin, November 2023
On the night of the Dublin riots, 23 November, a fire was lit at the Holiday Inn Express hotel on O’Connell Street Upper and Cathal Brugha Street.
Posts relating to the fire circulating on Telegram claimed that “migrants” were staying at the hotel.
The Department of Integration told Prime Time it “was not using the premises.”
A hostel on nearby Parnell Street which was housing asylum seekers at the time, was also attacked on the night. The front windows of the building were smashed but no fire was lit. In footage of the incident, rioters could be heard saying “we’ll get in on top of these” and that the protestors intended to “light it up.”
Finglas, Dublin, November 2023
On the night of the Dublin riots, a fire was lit at premises earmarked for asylum seekers in Finglas. Part of the building which had previously been a shop and a Covid-testing facility, was set on fire.
The building was empty when the fire was started.
Attempts to house IPAs in the area sparked a series of anti-immigration protests in January 2023, which – among other locations – targeted Finglas Garda Station and the constituency offices of several local public representatives.
Ringsend, Dublin, December 2023
The former Shipwright Pub in Ringsend, Dublin, was set on fire on New Year’s Eve 2023.
In the lead up to the fire, there had been protests amid claims the building was to be used to house people seeking asylum. Dublin Regional Homeless Executive (DHRE) said it was instead being renovated to house homeless families.
“I had been hoping to place between 12 and 14 families there from early February,” a spokeswoman for the DHRE told RTE News at One in the days after the fire. “Not having it is a huge issue,” she added.
Gardaí said they were investigating an incident of criminal damage by fire.
Sandyford, Dublin, January 2024
A guesthouse in Sandyford, that was due to host up to 20 IPAs, was set alight on 7 January. It was unoccupied and undergoing renovations at the time.
Prior to the fire, video circulated on TikTok showed builders working at the site being confronted by people who said they were “concerned local parents.”
The person filmed around the grounds of the property and claimed the building would be used to house male asylum seekers.
Local councilors told Prime Time that a neighbouring building had been housing 20 female IPAs since October last year and that the building which was set on fire was due to be occupied by 20 more females seeking international protection.
Gardaí said they were investigating the fire.
Brittas/Crooksling, Dublin, February 2024
A former Health Service Executive nursing home in Crooksling near Brittas in county Dublin was set on fire in the early hours of Sunday, 4 February.
Fire crews spent several house working to contain the fire at St Brigid’s Nursing Home.
In the weeks prior, protesters had gathered outside the former nursing home following reports the building would be used to house asylum seekers.
Posts had separately been circulated on social media since mid-January claiming the site “had been marked for plantation” and that the building would “cater for thousands of illegal criminals.”
Following the fire, a spokesperson for the Department of Integration said it had undertaken “an assessment” of the property, but that the process was at the “initial stages.”
It said the property had “not yet been deemed suitable… nor had it been contracted by the Department.”
Protesters told reporters they were devastated by the news of the fire and said they had gathered peacefully for weeks prior.
An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said in response to news of the incident that he was “very concerned” about “disturbing reports of suspected criminal damage at properties around the country in recent weeks.”
Gardaí are investigating.
The Department of Integration told Prime Time that “where An Garda Síochána are already involved, the Department is precluded from commenting as it may prejudice any consequent investigation or court case.”
The Department also said it condemned all acts of “intimidation and criminality committed by the small minority who want to sow division in our society.”
In a statement to Prime Time, An Garda Síochána said: “Criminal investigations are ongoing into a large number of different potential criminal incidents including arson attacks on buildings.”
The statement continued stating that arson is “a very serious offence,” carrying a penalty of “up to life imprisonment.”
