'No escape from punishment' for those responsible for arson attacks, says Tánaiste
Micheál Martin said he was confident that gardaí are doing everything they can to track down those responsible. Picture: Moya Nolan
The perpetrators of arson attacks on buildings linked to accommodation for asylum seekers are not acting with “impunity”, the Tánaiste has said.
Speaking to reporters in Washington DC, Micheál Martin there “is no escape from punishment” and he was confident that gardaí are doing everything they can to track down those responsible for these arson attacks.
“These are criminal acts which endanger life, endanger property, and go against the grain of our democracy,” he said.
“And undermine law and order. And we will pursue those who are doing this.”
On Saturday, a Dublin building became at least the 17th in a year to be set on fire after being linked with accommodating asylum seekers.
To date, however, 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.
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.
Mr Martin said on Tuesday: “There is no impunity here. There is no escape from punishment and I have full confidence that the gardaí will be pursuing all lines of inquiry here.
“As leaders, we don’t deal with operational issues in terms of investigations and so on.
"I’ve no doubt that gardaí are doing everything they possibly can to track the people who are committing these crimes.”
The latest attack came amid rising numbers of those seeking international protection and a scarcity of available accommodation.
The reported on Tuesday that Ms McEntee would bring a memo to Cabinet within weeks to advise Government to opt in to a new EU deal which was agreed in December that could see Ireland pay almost €13m instead of taking in 648 asylum seekers every year.
