People denied re-entry to Citywest had been staying 'without specific authority'

A Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth spokesperson said: “The Citywest Hub is at capacity and remains paused to new arrivals until numbers there can be reduced." File picture: Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie

A number of people who were denied re-entry to the Citywest Transit Hub following a fire drill had been staying at the hub “without specific authority” or were previously asked to leave because of anti-social behaviour.

The drill was conducted at Citywest, which houses International Protection Applicants on Tuesday afternoon, and approximately 500 people were evacuated from the building. As residents re-entered the building staff began checking ID cards to verify that each person was assigned a place within the hub.