Three arrests in relation to arson attack on Dublin pub
False rumours had circulated that asylum-seekers would be housed there but the Dublin Region Homeless Executive confirmed it was for homeless families. File picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins
Three people have been arrested on Thursday following a New Year's Eve arson incident in Dublin.
The fire broke out at the vacant Shipwright pub in Ringsend. The building had been earmarked for housing members of the homeless community.
False rumours had circulated that asylum-seekers would be housed there but the Dublin Region Homeless Executive confirmed it was for homeless families.
Gardaí carried out a number of searches on Thursday morning during an operation in the Dublin area.
Two men aged in their 30s and 50s and a woman in her 20s were arrested. A number of items of evidential value were seized, including electronic devices, in the course of the operation.
The woman has since been released without charge.
Gardaí said: "As part of this investigation four residential properties were searched under warrant this morning, Thursday 8th February, 2024 during an operation in the Dublin area."
A statement added: "All three are currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 for alleged offences under the Criminal Damage Act at a Garda Station in the Dublin Region."
Gardaí have appealed for anyone with information in relation to this investigation to contact Irishtown Garda Station 01 666 9600, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.
It comes as Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said that people will be brought to justice over arson attacks on asylum centres across the country.
“There is a very significant operation underway this morning and the gardaí will be out later on and will make a full statement on it,” Mr Varadkar said.
“Arson is a very serious crime, punishable by up to ten years in prison,” he told Newstalk.
Gardaí said that the three arrests on Thursday brings to 10 the number of people arrested for arson attacks in recent months.
- Five people have been arrested and detained in respect of the investigation into Criminal Damage and Public Order Incidents on Sandwith Street on 12 May 2023 and a file is currently with the Director of Public Prosecutions.
- Two people have been arrested and charged before the District Court in Kerry by gardaí investigating alleged criminal damage to a residential building in Killarney on the 1 January 2024.
In addition, four searches were carried out by gardaí investigating Criminal Damage to Ross Lake Hotel, Galway.
Gardaí are also appealing to anyone with information on any other reported incidents of arson to contact An Garda Síochána either through the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any member of An Garda Síochána.
Yesterday, gardaí began investigating an arson attack in Leixlip, Co Kildare, where a vacant house was targeted in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
At present, gardaí say they are aware of a significant volume of misinformation, disinformation, and rumours about the use, or proposed use of the building.
However, the Department of Integration confirmed that they were not considering the use of the house to accommodate asylum seekers.
“I think what we need to do is catch the people who’ve done this. We don’t believe it’s one gang travelling around the country committing all these arson attacks.
“They are different in nature. There are some who are doing it opportunistically, others who are connected to extreme and racist views who are more organised in what they’re doing."
On the attack at a former nursing home in Dublin over the weekend, Mr Varadkar said that he believed it would have taken a lot of planning to burn down.
“That was a big building to burn that down, that took a lot of planning and took a degree of knowledge. In other places, it hasn’t been arson on that scale.” Mr Varadkar said that his biggest worry was that someone would be killed in one of these arson attacks, whether that is a security guard or someone sleeping rough.
It is believed that there have been at least 23 arson attacks on buildings that are being linked, either correctly or incorrectly, to housing asylum seekers and refugees.
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