Rally to support asylum seekers in Drogheda after Ipas centre set alight 

The Ipas centre in Drogheda, Co Louth was deliberately set on fire on Halloween night with children inside. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

A march is to be held on Saturday in a show of solidarity with the families evacuated from an Ipas centre in Drogheda which was deliberately set on fire on Halloween night with children inside.

Gardaí are continuing to hunt for a person caught on CCTV setting fire to the stairs of the building on George's St which housed up to 28 people.

The families had to be evacuated and are now living in the nearby Mosney Centre near Laytown.

Emergency services rescued an adult and four children, including a baby, when the fire broke out between 7.30pm and 8.30pm.

Local woman Mary McKinnity told the Irish Examiner that people in the town are “sickened to our stomachs”.

“The world has gone mad, Drogheda has had its ups and downs but not this, not attempting to burn children alive. 

"Anyone who can even dream of doing that, there is something really wrong with them. The people of Drogheda won’t accept that."

Michael O’Farrell, who lives near the centre said: “God only knows what those people are going through now. 

"They will never forget having to escape a fire.

“Now we know it was deliberate. They will have to try and process that. I hope they get the supports. I am shocked and disgusted. So are loads of people here. They could have all died.”

The Drogheda4All group has organised a rally for this Saturday at 12.30pm on West St, close to the steps of St Peters Church, to support the asylum seekers.

In a post online, the group wrote: “People who build communities don’t set fire to homes within them.

“People who build communities do not wish harm on our neighbours, co-workers, schoolmates, family and friends.

“The response by the people of Drogheda to the horrifying events which endangered the lives of active members within our community has been immense. There has been an outpouring of love, community, and solidarity through mutual aid."

“This is the very embodiment of the Irish people’s incredible spirit, resilience and history of welcoming."