Politics

Galway councillor claims ‘political interference’ behind Garda raid on his home

Homes of two Fianna Fáil councillors searched by gardaí following suspected arson attack on Rosscahill Hotel

Gardaí searched the homes of Cllr Seamus Walsh (left) and Cllr Noel Thomas. Photograph: Joe O'Shaughnessy
Gardaí searched the homes of Cllr Seamus Walsh (left) and Cllr Noel Thomas. Photograph: Joe O'Shaughnessy
Andrew Hamilton
Mon Jan 22 2024 - 15:21

A Galway county councillor has claimed that “political interference” was behind a Garda raid on his home earlier this month.

The homes of Fianna Fáil councillors Noel Thomas and Seamus Walsh were searched by gardaí on January 6th, following a suspected arson attack on the Ross Lake House Hotel in Roscahill in December.

Speaking at a meeting of Galway County Council on Monday morning, Cllr Thomas claimed that unspecified “political interference” prompted the search.

Cllrs Thomas and Walsh rebuked their fellow Connemara councillor, Allister McKinstry of the Green Party, claiming he wrongly accused them of “stoking” the local population in Roscahill in advance of the alleged arson attack on December 16th.

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The 13-bedroom hotel was to be used for temporary accommodation for 70 asylum seekers, including some who had been forced to sleep rough due to a lack of beds.

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Thomas hinted at possible legal action against the Green Party councillor, saying the matter “will go further”.

“Cllr McKinstry needs to explain his words and I’ve heard no response from him yet. But I can assure you that this will go further. What has happened to us over the past few weeks has been absolutely disgraceful,” said Cllr Thomas.

“This stinks of political interference. No one can tell me that the Serious Crime Squad [An Garda Síochána] are stupid. They know that we had nothing to do with this. They are getting orders from someone to come and raid our houses.”

Cllr McKinstry put forward a motion at the December meeting of Galway County Council, which was passed by the local authority, calling on “all community leaders to lead by example and alleviate fears, not stoke them”.

Cllr Walsh, who briefly became involved in a shouting match with Cllr McKinstry at Monday’s meeting, criticised the Green Party and his own party, Fianna Fáil, for their handling of the suspected arson attack.

“I would like to express my hurt at the cheek [of Cllr McKinstry] to accuse me. I am an elected representative and I will continue to represent the people who elected me, despite the Green Party and despite Fianna Fáil. I am asking Cllr McKinstry, if he has an accusation, I would ask him to produce proof,” said Cllr Walsh.

“The damage that has been done to the health of my family because of this has been enormous.”

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr McKinstry denied making accusations against the two Fianna Fáil councillors but said that he stood by his motion calling for leadership.

“We unanimously passed a motion last December condemning the acts of criminal damage to property in Rosscahill. We did not name any councillors, we urged all public representatives to show leadership and not stoke tension, and I stand by that statement,” he said.

An Garda Síochána conducted searches of four properties in the Roscahill area on January 6th to gather “evidence in relation to the arson of Ross Lake House Hotel”.

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