Fire breaks out at Galway hotel earmarked for asylum seekers

Gardai are treating a fire at a hotel which was to due be used to accommodate asylum seekers as a criminal damage incident.

The blaze broke out at the Ross Lake House Hotel in Rosscahill, Co Galway, at approximately 11.35pm on Saturday.

No-one is believed to have been inside the building at the time, and the fire service brought the flames under control.

The scene has been preserved and a technical examination was due to take place on Sunday

The hotel has not been in use for several years and had been selected to house 70 asylum seekers in the coming days.

The Government plan had been the subject of local opposition and demonstrators blocked the entrance to the hotel on Saturday in protest.

Minister for Integration Roderic O’Gorman described the incident as “deeply disturbing”.

He said: “Politicians across the board should condemn this disgraceful act and the fear-mongering that led to it.”

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he was “deeply concerned” about recent reports of suspected criminal damage at properties earmarked for accommodating international protection applicants, including in Co Galway on Saturday.

He said: “There is no justification for violence, arson or vandalism in our Republic. Ever. Garda investigations are under way.

“Even with robust border controls, extra checks at airports, faster processing times and record numbers of refusals, like much of the world we are dealing with a major step-change in the numbers arriving here, seeking protection. This is driven by war, poverty, climate change and human rights abuses in their home countries.

“I want to assure people we have a rules-based system and are processing applications in record time. All asylum-seekers are registered, fingerprinted, checked against watch lists, and the circumstances surrounding their request for asylum are examined thoroughly. We aim to treat them with dignity and respect while their applications are considered.

“The response from many communities has been incredible. We’ve seen people open their homes, schools, clubs and communities to help those most in need.

“The people carrying out these crimes are a very small minority. I believe most people in the country empathise with those fleeing truly terrible circumstances and recognise the benefits that legal migration, in general, brings to Ireland. I hope that as we continue through the winter, we can continue to treat those arriving here with the basic dignity and decency we would want for our own.

“The Government will continue to listen to communities, recognising the effort they are making and helping them as they manage an unprecedented situation together.”

The Minister for Justice has said she is “appalled” by the fire, and urged anyone with information about the suspected criminal damage incident to contact gardai.

Helen McEntee said there is no justification for arson and added: “In recent times, so many communities across Ireland have demonstrated great solidarity to those who come here seeking shelter and protection.

“While people have the right to protest, people do not have the right to cause damage to property, to cause people to fear for their safety or to threaten public order.

“These acts do not represent the values of Irish people.”