Masked protestors picket home of asylum centre owner 

Gardaí attended the protest which saw a group of men, some masked, go to the home of Tom Murphy.

The operator of a facility housing asylum seekers was warned he had three days to shut it down by a group of anti-immigrant protesters who picketed his home.

In videos which have spread online, a group of men, some masked, go to the home of Tom Murphy. Mr Murphy is a director of the Fun Galaxy building in Finglas, trading as Fun Quest Ltd, which has been earmarked for use in housing asylum seekers but is not currently occupied.

In the video, the men use a loudhailer and tell him he has "three days to close the building or we'll come back every day".

The incident comes amid a spate of protests at asylum facilities across the country. A protest has been held since Thursday at the Racket Hall hotel in Roscrea, Co Tipperary, which is due to house 160 women and children.

Locals have said that they were not consulted and have pointed to the town already accommodating 400 asylum seekers in its convent.

However, defending the plan, Integration Minister Roderic O’Gorman told Newstalk that the Government must take what accommodation is available.

I absolutely understand that where a hotel in a town’s use changes, I understand that has an impact, that’s why it’s important that we better plan where we provide accommodation.

He added: “We are responding to a humanitarian crisis and in the situation in Roscrea, we are responding to the needs of families to ensure that they will be accommodated.

“As long as people continue to seek international accommodation, we will have to do that.”

A protest camp in Urlingford, Co Kilkenny, burned down on Saturday evening, but it is unclear what caused the blaze. The former landmark Josephine's restaurant has been derelict since 2010 and was undergoing renovations for use by Ukrainian families. The company which owns it — coach operator Bernard Kavanagh and Sons — said in a social media post earlier this month that it would be repurposed for the use of its staff once the war in Ukraine is over.

Public campaign 

The incidents come as the Government works to counter misinformation around asylum centres and to establish larger reception centres similar to those in Citywest and Balseskin in Dublin.

Government sources said that a large-scale public information campaign is planned as well as an expansion of information on the Gov.ie website around the issue, as well as examining security arrangements at facilities. 

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said in recent weeks that there are "far-right myths" perpetuating around asylum centres. Speaking in Kosovo on Thursday, he said it was necessary to "dispel some of the myths that have become quite mainstream in relation to our policies and that's something that I'll be doing, as Taoiseach in 2024".

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said in recent weeks that there are "far-right myths" perpetuating around asylum centres.

Speaking to RTÉ radio's This Week yesterday, Environment Minister Eamon Ryan said that Ireland needs to move towards larger facilities for international protection applicants and away from the private sector.

"We do need to switch away from relying on this large number of small and emergency facilities from the private sector towards using a certain number of centres that will be better for everyone because they won’t be on such a needs-must basis at the last minute."