'Warm fire of hospitality' can't be replaced by 'raging fires of division', says bishop

 The Bishop of Limerick, Brendan Leahy, said that there are a few who take advantage of 'bona fide concerns' about a reduction in services to stoke the 'fires of division'. Picture: Kieran Clancy

The Bishop of Limerick has said that Ireland is now “far from a place of a thousand welcomes”, and has accused some people of stoking division and distrust of migrants.

In his homily for St Patrick’s Day, Bishop Brendan Leahy said Ireland cannot be allowed to become a place where the "warm fire of hospitality is being replaced by raging fires of division, distrust, and disdain, stoked by a few".

He acknowledged “bona fide concerns” about a reduction of services and a shortage of hotel spaces when asylum seekers and refugees are located in communities.

However, he added: “There are undoubtedly also those who are taking advantage of this, leading to stirring tensions, riots, murmurings, social media campaigns.

"The migrant St Patrick puts before us the question: How are we today treating those who have migrated to our land?"

He was speaking a day after more than 100 asylum seekers, who had sleeping in tents on Mount St in Dublin city Centre, were unexpectedly bussed to a rural campsite 20km away. 

The Government has been accused by some migrant rights campaigners of moving the asylum seekers to effectively clear the streets of Dublin for St Patrick's Day.

Lucky Khambule, a member of the Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland, said: “We condemn in the strongest possible way treating people who seek international protection in this way. They were treated like criminals. 

Tents returned to Mount St, Dublin, after the area was cleared on Saturday of refugee and asylum seekers. Picture: Leon Farrell/ RollingNews.ie

“We believe strongly the Government did that so abruptly because there was the parade. They didn’t want the shame of these tents to be seen by visitors and international media.” 

Labour leader Ivana Bacik said: “It is shameful really, in a relatively prosperous European country, that we can’t find appropriate accommodation for people who are here in the asylum system.” 

She called for immediate improvements at the new site and understands that at least 20 men have already returned to the city centre.

“Mount St was utterly unsuitable, but the problem is Crooksling [the new site] appears to be not particularly suitable,” she said.

Vacant buildings, such as Baggot St Hospital or space at the Defence Force’s Curragh Camp, should used instead, she suggested.

Ms Bacik also praised local volunteers and SafetyNet doctors for supporting asylum seekers in Mount St.

This echoed comments from Bishop Leahy as he commended “parishes and small faith communities and community initiatives in Limerick” working with migrants. 

He added: “It is sometimes said Ireland is full and that we cannot take more migrants, but that is not true. We know there are many areas where workers are needed in Ireland.”