Green Party finds Garda view of 'copycat' fires at centres linked to asylum seekers 'deeply frustrating'

Patrick Costello, Dublin South Central TD for the junior partner in the Government, said 'there is a clear systemic pattern here' to the fires

Gardaí at the scene of St Brigid's Nursing Home in Crooksling where it was set on fire earlier this month. Protests had been held in the area beforehand amid speculation that the premises was earmarked to accommodate asylum seekers. File photo: Sasko Lazarov/© RollingNews.ie

The Green Party’s justice spokesman has said it is “deeply frustrating and deeply dangerous” that An Garda Síochána do not see there is a “clear, systematic pattern” behind the arson attacks on centres linked to asylum seekers.

Patrick Costello, Dublin South Central TD for the junior partner in the Government, told Justice Minister Helen McEntee that gardaí, from the commissioner down, “dismissed” the suggestion of any kind of organisation behind the fires.