Martin 'hopes' for no copycat protests over asylum seekers following concessions in Clare

Tánaiste Micheál Martin said he met a person last week who was “convinced” after reading a Facebook post that 150 refugees have been moved into a location, which was not true

Locals at a blockade at the turn off for Magowna Hotel in Clare on Thursday. Minister of State at the Department of Integration, Joe O’Brien, said there would be a four-week “pause” on increasing the number of refugees in Inch following a meeting with protesters on Thursday. Photo: Eamonn Farrell / RollingNews.ie

Tánaiste Micheál Martin has said he hopes there won’t be similar copycat protests over asylum seekers after the government bowed to pressure from residents in Clare.

Minister of State at the Department of Integration, Joe O’Brien, said there would be a four-week “pause” on increasing the number of refugees in Inch following a meeting with protesters on Thursday. Mr Martin said he does not know if locals protesting outside Magowna House Hotel have preconceptions about refugees and that he has to take them at face value.