Varadkar believes some protesters ‘complicit’ with arsonists

The scene of a suspected arson attack at a vacant house in Co Kildare, which was wrongly rumoured to be planned accommodation for asylum seekers (Niall Carson/PA)

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he believes some of the people who protested against planned refugee accommodation centres which were the subject of arson attacks need to be “held accountable for their silence”.

Labour leader Ivana Bacik said more than 20 properties across the country have been set alight in recent months.