Mother who escaped fire at Drogheda Ipas centre 'terrified' violence will continue

The International Protection Accommodation Services (Ipas) centre in Drogheda after the building was attacked. A number of people had to be rescued on Friday night after fireworks were thrown into the building. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA

A mother who was rescued along with her children from a fire at an asylum-seeker centre in Drogheda says she is terrified about further acts of violence and may have to leave the town. 

The property on George's Street in Drogheda, which houses up to 28 people seeking international protection, had to be evacuated after a fire broke out on Halloween night. 

CCTV images appeared to show someone pouring fuel on the stairs before the building went on fire.

Two men have been arrested and charged in connection with the incident.

A number of people were taken to the nearby Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda but were later discharged and have been moved temporarily to Mosney in Laytown, Co Meath.

“I am very nervous, I am terrified,” a rescued mother told the Irish Examiner. “I just don’t understand it.

“The children, they are okay, for now, but I am shaking with worry. I am just trying to be okay for the kids. 

I had to go to see the GP today, I am not sleeping. It has upset many people, we are all afraid now.

The mother has lived in Drogheda for many years, but said: "I don’t know if I’ll stay in Drogheda, but we have been there for a long time."

Her children go to school in the town and any move would negatively impact them, she said.

Local Fine Gael councillor Ejiro O'Hare-Stratton, a friend of those evacuated from the burning building, said: “I think everyone is shocked by the events that happened. I am meeting the manager of the place to talk to him also, as they are all frightened. People have lost their jobs too.

“I work with the families in that Ipas centre and the mother of the two children, she is at the centre of my networking when it comes to integration between the people in the town and those seeking shelter. It’s just a very worrying time now.”