No arrests yet for arson attacks linked to asylum seeker housing

Seven fire engines were called to the scene at 7am of disused buildings in Brittas, near Blessington. Picture: Dublin Fire Brigade

A Dublin building has become at least the 17th in a year to be set on fire because the property was linked to accommodating asylum seekers, yet no arrests have been made in connection with the incidents.

Some 40 firefighters attached to seven units from the Dublin Fire Brigade battled a major blaze at the former St Brigid’s Nursing Home at Crooksling, close to the village of Brittas, on Sunday. Protesters had been near the site in recent weeks, but this intensified on Friday when a 24-hour protest began.

Gardaí and members of Wicklow Fire Service outside the entrance to a HSE site which was formally Crooksling Nursing Home, Co Dublin, where a major fire took place. Picture: Damien Eagers

While Justice Minister Helen McEntee has said gardaí will relentlessly chase down those responsible for the latest attack, there have been no arrests relating to the other fires recorded at similar properties across the country over the past year.

A spokesperson for the Department of Integration said an assessment of the property to potentially house international protection applicants (IPAs) had begun with the agreement of the HSE. However, the building had not yet been deemed suitable nor has been contracted by the department.

#Crooksling

The fire near Brittas has now been contained with six fire engines at scene

We've received great support including water tankers from @FireWicklow and assistance from @ESBNetworks

Over 40 firefighters are working at the incident pic.twitter.com/E74vnQyCY0

— Dublin Fire Brigade (@DubFireBrigade) February 4, 2024

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said arson attacks on buildings can carry up to 10 years in prison, and added that it is “deeply ironic” that those who try to link immigration with crime are themselves engaging in criminal activity.

It comes as the Irish Examiner has learned that the number of asylum seekers who arrived in Ireland in January was a new monthly record not seen in over 20 years.

A total of 1,774 people seeking international protection came to the country last month with officials within the Department of Justice confirming it is the highest monthly figure since 2001 and 2002. This compares to 1,464 people in November and 1,427 in December last year.

The Government has moved to crackdown on the use of Ireland’s asylum system as a route for economic migration. Ms McEntee added Algeria and Botswana to the ‘safe countries’ list. She has also confirmed the Government is to begin chartering deportation flights and will aim to begin flying people back to their country of origin later this year.

However, last night a senior Government source said no matter how many measures are introduced, it is unlikely that it will reduce the number of people seeking asylum here.

The source said: “The latest increase in asylum seekers last month is likely going to continue due to the global situation, there is a global migration movement that we can’t really control.

Accelerating the processing of applicants from people coming from safe countries isn’t going to decrease the number of people who will arrive here, end of.

“It’s not just Ireland dealing with this situation, but there is apprehension within Government that the increased arrival numbers will be used as a narrative that the Government has no control on the matter.” 

At a meeting of Government officials on Friday, sources said those attending were informed there was a “record number” of IPAs that arrived in the State last month. The number of Ukrainians coming here had dropped, but have now surged again, ahead of the new rules which will see a cut to social welfare and a 90-day limit on State accommodation.

 Ms McEntee also revealed during the week that the Government considered adding Nigeria and Pakistan to the 'safe countries' list too, but concluded they did not meet all the criteria.

It is understood that the Green Party was keen to add Nigeria to the ‘safe countries’ list, with suggestions within Government that the justice department pushed back on adding the African country due to concerns that application processing targets would not be met due to the high volume of people arriving from the country. However, sources within Ms McEntee’s department moved to dismiss this as a deciding factor.