Taoiseach condemns ‘idiotic’ attack on Tallaght building earmarked for asylum seekers

Taoiseach Simon Harris will consider security arrangements on sites earmarked for international protection applicants following an arson attack on Tuesday night on a building in Tallaght, Co Dublin.

Mr Harris described the attack as “idiotic, as well as being a disgusting act of criminality and an attempt to intimidate people”.

A spokesman for the Garda said the force is investigating an incident of criminal damage by fire at a property in Tallaght on Tuesday.

Gardaí and emergency services were alerted to a fire at a vacant property on High Street at approximately 11.10pm and attended the scene.

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Local fire services brought the fire under control a short time later. There were no injuries reported to any persons at the scene.

The spokesman said a technical examination of the scene has since been conducted. Gardaí are appealing to anyone who may have information in relation to this incident to contact them.

Any person who was in the vicinity of High Street, Tallaght, between 10.30pm and 11.30pm and who observed any unusual activity is asked to contact gardaí.

Mr Harris was responding to People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy who said St John’s House currently houses Jigsaw, a young people’s mental health service and a number of restaurants as well as being intended for asylum seekers.

“The attack proves that the people spreading the hate and carrying out the attacks are not about building up communities or having more resources for communities. All they want to do is spread destruction, violence and fear.”

Mr Murphy said it was about the 30th arson attack in the last number of years and “fits the same pattern as the others, pointing to the same far-right agitators coming in and spreading lies, hate and division”.

The Taoiseach said: “I struggle to comprehend how, at a time of constraint in capacity, housing supply, accommodation and shelter” that “people who profess to be speaking up for people – when of course they speak for no one and have no mandate – would take any action to reduce, constrain and constrict further supply.”

He promised to speak to Minister for Integration Roderic O’Gorman about security at such sites.

Mr Murphy said “the attack proves that the people spreading the hate and carrying out the attacks are not about building up communities or having more resources for communities. All they want to do is spread destruction, violence and fear.”

He added that the vast majority of people in Tallaght “will reject this hatred and the attack absolutely”. A very small minority was targeting these sites, which need to be protected, he said.

But people “will ask the very valid question as to why there was no private security at the site” and “will say there is a real problem with communication from the Government”.

A proposal to use the site for asylum seekers was first reported in the local news in January “but we did not get any accurate information until about two weeks ago. In that vacuum, the bad actors spread their lies.

“The lie is circulating that there will be 3,500 people in the centre. It is completely ridiculous. It looks like the accurate figure, at the end of two phases, will end up at 350,” he said.

Confirming that he would talk to Mr O’Gorman about security, Mr Harris said he took the point that the Government needs to build its communications capacity with communities, an issue that was discussed at the latest meeting of the Cabinet committee on migration. He said people working in the community engagement team are doing a good job.

“I am sure they would like more colleagues and I am looking to see what we can do in that regard.”

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