Harris hits out at arson attack on building earmarked to house asylum seekers

The Taoiseach has criticised the people behind an arson attack on a building that was earmarked for asylum seeker accommodation in Co Wicklow.

The fire, at Trudder House in Newtownmountkennedy, broke out in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Fire services attended the scene and extinguished the fire.

Gardai said a technical examination of the scene has been conducted and investigations into the incident were ongoing.

A number of buildings that have been earmarked for housing asylum seekers, as well as sites rumoured to be, have been targeted in recent times.

There have been more than 20 fires at properties associated, sometimes incorrectly, with accommodating asylum seekers in 2023 and 2024.

Taoiseach Simon Harris said that Ireland is responding to a humanitarian crisis and that the arson attacks on buildings during a housing crisis is “extraordinarily unhelpful”.

“I understand there’s investigation ongoing in relation to that incident and I don’t want to say anything in the position I hold that prejudices the outcome of that,” Mr Harris said on Monday.

“But, of course, I’m very concerned to see any fire happening in any buildings or indeed any location, particularly at a time when we live in a country that already has it constraints when it comes to housing supply.

“For anybody to take any action that will in any way further worsen that situation is extraordinarily unhelpful and in a very, very difficult and challenging time, when Ireland is responding to an humanitarian crisis.

“I’ll let the Garda investigation run its course before I comment further on any motives.”

Gardai confirmed it is investigating the suspected criminal damage by fire incident.

A number of protesters have been staging a demonstration near the building in recent weeks, with some remaining in the area on Monday.

The Department of Integration had been assessing the site for suitability for providing accommodation after accepting a HSE offer to use the empty building.