Irish Police (Gardaí) suspect arson caused fire at planned homeless accommodation centre in Ringsend

The Shipwright pub in Ringsend, Dublin, intended for housing homeless families, was engulfed in flames on New Year’s Eve. Irish police gardaí suspect arson and have gathered CCTV footage for potential suspects. A forensic investigation indicates the fire was deliberate.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Minister for Justice Helen McEntee emphasize the ongoing investigation and pledge to bring the culprits to justice.

The Shipwright pub became a target of false rumours propagated by far-right groups, claiming it would house asylum seekers. Recent protests at the site culminated in the fire, possibly fueled by the misguided belief that the building was designated for asylum seekers. Social media accounts, some anonymous and far-right, endorsed the fire.

This incident adds to fires at locations linked to asylum-seeker housing plans. A former hotel in Rosscahill, Co Galway, met a similar fate in December. The Dublin Regional Homeless Executive (DRHE) reaffirms the pub’s intended use for local homeless families, denouncing the fire as “very disappointing.”

Dublin Fire Brigade mobilized six engines and 30 firefighters to control the blaze around 2 am on Sunday. A spokesperson described finding “a well-developed fire with heavy smoke.” The fire was contained by 5 am.

The Garda spokesman urges information sharing, acknowledging a surge in misinformation about the building’s purpose.

Various local politicians, including Fianna Fáil TD Jim O’Callaghan and Green Party councillor Claire Byrne, condemn the arson, highlighting its impact on plans to create a family hub for people experiencing homelessness.