Fuel was poured on stairs at Ipas centre before it was set alight

The International Protection Accommodation Services (Ipas) centre in Drogheda, Co Louth after the building was attacked. Picture: PA

Petrol or another accelerant was poured on a staircase before it was set on fire, trapping one adult and four children including a baby upstairs in asylum seeker accommodation with no safe exit on Halloween night.

The fire was deliberately started at an International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) centre on George’s St in Drogheda where some 28 people were staying on Friday at about 8pm.