An accelerant was used to deliberately start a fire at asylum seeker accommodation in Drogheda, Co Louth, on Halloween night, gardaí believe.
Four children and an adult had to be rescued from the top floor of the building on George’s Street on Friday night, while 23 others were relocated to alternative accommodation.
Some of the rescued children, including a 20-day-old and a 17-month-old, were taken to hospital for assessment.
The incident has been widely condemned in the community and by leading political figures.
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Despite initial reports from officials that the blaze was started by fireworks, gardaí have since reviewed CCTV footage showing a person entering the premises and deliberately starting the fire on the building’s staircase.
The staircase is the only exit from the upper floors where the rescued asylum seekers were located. Gardaí believe the nature of the incident will likely justify attempted murder or endangerment charges, as well as arson.
However, no suspect has been identified so far.
The incident occurred at the International Protection Accommodation Service (Ipas) centre on George’s Street at approximately 8.15pm.
CCTV footage shows what appears to be a male figure wearing work gloves setting fire to the stairs. An accelerant sprayed on the stairs was then set alight, causing the fire to spread rapidly. The suspect then fled.
“This was an extremely dangerous act endangering the lives of the residents, including children, who were in their home at the time,” gardaí said in an updated statement.
“Following initial reports of the fire being started by the discharge of fireworks, investigations by An Garda Síochána to date indicate that the fire was started deliberately by person or persons unknown.”
Nigerian-born Fine Gael representative Ejiro O’Hare Stratton, who works at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in the town, said she visited those asylum seekers brought in for assessment in the aftermath.
“I have worked with families in the centre in my community work with [the support network] Hands4Unity. I know them very well,” she said.
“When I visited them [in hospital] ... my heart just melted for them. There is a lady with a 20-day-old baby and a 17-month-old baby.
“The kids that were trapped in that building when they saw me this morning they said: ‘Aunty are we still going to celebrate Halloween?’ I said we had to celebrate Halloween because we are alive. Let us celebrate it.”
Gardaí have set up an incident room in Drogheda to investigate the attack and are appealing for witnesses. An senior officer has been appointed to oversee the investigation.
Gardaí have asked anyone in the Georges Street area of Drogheda between 7.30pm and 8.20pm on Friday, or anyone with information on the incident, to contact Drogheda or any other Garda station.
“Information may be provided in confidence to An Garda Síochána by calling the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111,” they said in a statement.
Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan said it had been a “terrifying ordeal” for those inside and warned of “serious consequences” for whoever was responsible.
Ms O’Hare Stratton, who has lived in Drogheda for 34 years, said the incident had left the residents she spoke to deeply upset.
“People living in the centre are traumatised,” she said. “I hugged one of the ladies I visited [on Saturday]. She was emotional and I said: ‘Don’t cry. Let’s look at this positively. We are alive. God was looking after us.’”
The assistant director of nursing at the hospital, Ms O’Hare Stratton said the people of Drogheda were “hospitable and friendly”. She said numerous members of the community had been contacting her with offers of assistance.
“People have been asking if they need clothes, food and shelter. That is the spirit of Drogheda. There is an 18-month-old baby in hospital whose clothes were left behind [in the centre],” she said.
“The staff saw the children in hospital running to me this morning and they asked how I knew them. I said I knew them through my charity. They call me Aunty. That is Drogheda.”
