Landlord linked to gang feud being 'paid millions' for asylum seeker accommodation, Dáil told

The Ipas centre in Drogheda, Co Louth, which was set alight last Friday. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA

A "rogue landlord" linked to the Drogheda gang feud has been "paid millions" for providing asylum seeker accommodation, the Dáil has been told.

Sinn Féin TD for Louth Joanna Byrne made the claim under Dáil privilege when speaking about a fire which trapped one adult and four children including a baby upstairs at a facility in the town last week.

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

CCTV footage obtained by The Sunday Times showed a masked man pouring what looked like petrol on the stairs before lighting them on fire, trapping people inside the burning building. 

Fireworks were also thrown through a window.

Five people, four of whom were children, were rescued from the top floor.

Some of the 28 residents at the centre were admitted to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, although no one suffered serious injury, it is understood.

Ms Byrne told the Dáil: "There are no published inspections of direct provision or emergency reception and orientation centres... in Co Louth for this building in 2025.

"The Government has paid millions of euro for asylum seeker accommodation to this company which is owned by a man who the Criminal Assets Bureau linked to the Drogheda gang feud."

Ms Byrne referred to him as a "rogue landlord".

"Recent media reports suggest that the owner of this company, Secure Accommodation Management, has been paid €10.2m since it was set up in September 2022. Indeed, the Department of Children, Disability and Equality highlighted its huge profits for 2023."

In response, public expenditure minister Jack Chambers said that he was "shocked and appalled by what happened in Drogheda".

"I heard many people from the Deputy's community express how appalled they were about that particular incident. We all condemn it."

Labour leader Ivana Bacik had earlier told the Dáil that the attack was "hideous" and called on the Government to enact a safety audit on all Ipas accommodation.

"Two babies, including one who is only 20 days old, were hospitalised in what was a hideous criminal attack which has horrified us all. I pay tribute to the courage of the firefighters who saved lives on Friday night."

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns said that one of the children had sent a text to their mother which read: “The house is on fire. Please answer."

"This is what a terrified 12-year-old child texted to her mum on Friday after an arson attack on her home, an Ipas centre in Drogheda. 

"Little children who came to this country seeking sanctuary are now terrified, traumatised, and living in fear. 

"This is where anti-immigrant and racist rhetoric have led us: a violent attack on vulnerable people that could easily have led to children being killed."