An arson attack on sleeping children in Drogheda

A review of security at all IPAS centres nationwide is underway
after a Halloween night arson attack on a Drogheda centre housing
28 people .


At the time the fire was set, families including a 20 year old
baby were asleep in the building.


CCTV footage widely circulated of the incident shows a masked man
pouring a substance onto the building’s only staircase and
igniting it before fleeing.


The incident is part of a pattern of more than 30 arson attacks
on buildings associated with asylum seekers since 2018, but
according to Irish Refugee Council CEO Nick Henderson, an attack
on a building that was inhabited at the time represents an
escalation. It took place just days after an anti-migrant rally
in the town.


One speaker at the protest on Saturday, October 25, previously
made online comments about fires at Ipas centres, and reportedly
wrote "burn baby burn" online about a hotel being used to house
asylum seekers.


At the rally, he claimed that all migrants were provided
"four-star accommodation" while some "16,000 Irish people don't
know where they're going to sleep tonight".


Irish Examiner reporter Liz Dunphy has been covering this story –
she's the guest on today’s episode of the Deirdre O’Shaughnessy
Podcast.


 


Anti-migrant rally held in Drogheda days before near fatal attack
on Ipas centre


Fuel was poured on stairs at Ipas centre before it was set alight


'Terrifying ordeal': Children amongst those rescued as gardaí say
Ipas centre fire was arson attack


 


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