Protests were held over Christmas outside property that was later burnt down

Protestors demonstrations, including on Christmas night, outside a building earmarked for homeless people which was burnt down in Ringsend. Picture: Leah Farrell/© RollingNews.ie

Protestors held round the clock demonstrations, including on Christmas night, outside a building earmarked for homeless people which was burnt down in Ringsend.

The property was bought by the Dublin Region Homeless Executive and was to be used for families who needed temporary accommodation.

However, locals believed it was to be used to house single male refugees only.

Gardaí are now investigating after the property on Thorncastle Street was set on fire on Sunday morning.

One of the protestors, told the Irish Examiner: “We were there for two weeks, every day including Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

“The builders came down, but they told us they wouldn’t be passing the picket line, our line. We just didn’t understand why we weren’t told anything.

“If we knew it was for families in emergency situations, for Dublin housing, it might be different, but nothing was done about it, and no one told us nothing.

Another protestor said: “Nobody told us it was for families. There was a meeting at a community centre a few weeks ago and nobody from the council showed up.

“Not one TD, no local community people, nobody showed up. No one spoke to us, no one from IPAS. If someone had of explained that this was for families, this might be different."

Fine Gael councillor Danny Byrne said a vacuum of information allowed rumours to spread that the building, which has been vacant for some years, would be used as a direct provision centre. He said that a health and safety notice went up on December 15 with the usual provisions but which only said that the facility was earmarked as "emergency accommodation".

He said that the Dublin Regional Homelessness Executive told one media outlet that the building would be used as a family hub for homeless people, but that this was never advised to public representatives.

"Proper information should have been forthcoming. The building has been lying there for a while. It's a real pity that whatever use that it could have had, it won't have any use. It's a shame that we weren't informed what was going on."

He said that local people are "saddened by what's happened".

Meanwhile an incident room has been set up by gardai for anyone who has any information about the fire.

In a statement, Gardaí confirmed they are “investigating an incident of criminal damage by fire that occurred at a premises on Thorncastle Street in Ringsend, Dublin 4 on December 31, 2023".

They said there was no one in the building at the time of the incident but that there was "substantial damage caused to the property".

“An incident room has been established at Irishtown Garda Station and the investigation is being led by a Senior Investigating Officer (SIO).

“Gardaí are appealing to anyone who may have information in relation to this incident to contact them.

“Any person, including road users and pedestrians, who were in the vicinity of Thorncastle Street between 1.00am and 2.30am and who observed any unusual activity is asked to contact investigating Gardaí.

“Any road users or pedestrians who were travelling in the Ringsend area during this time and who may have camera footage (including dash cam) is asked to make this available to Gardaí."