LAST UPDATE | 19 Jul 2024

TÁNAISTE MICHEÁL MARTIN has said that the country must condemn arson and the destruction of property after a site earmarked for asylum seeker accommodation in Coolock was set alight.

The site of the old Crown Paints factory, which was being renovated in order to house up to 500 people on a phased basis, has become the focus of unrest over the last few days.

Martin said he has yet to be fully briefed on all the details of last night’s blaze but that “we have to look at everything in perspective”.

“My understanding is that there was security at the site, but there are people out there who are determined to do things in a disruptive way, and I condemn that.

“We have to be very clear in condemning arson condemning the destruction of property – that’s criminal behavior.”

It’s not satisfactory that people would get access to a site. More importantly, why would people do that?

Gardaí and emergency services attended the scene of the fire at the old Crown Paints factory site on the Malahide Road, which broke out at around 9pm.

Dublin Fire Brigade dispatched two fire engines to the scene.

“The fire in a lobby area has been contained and we expect firefighting operations to be wound down soon,” they said in a post on X last night.

The Malahide Road remained open during the incident. A garda spokesperson said that no injuries were reported and that investigations into the matter are ongoing.

Yesterday was the fourth day of public disorder at the old Crown Paints factory.

On Monday, people clashed with gardaí at the Malahide Road site, resulting in 21 people being charged with public order offences.

Speaking in Donegal today, Taoiseach Simon Harris said the entitlement to protest is a “key tenet of our democracy”, but that those at Coolock engaged in “thuggery”.

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“What we have seen in recent days has been an attempt by a relatively small people to engage in lawlessness, to engage in thuggery and to engage in criminal activity.

“That’s why there have been several arrests.”

Gardaí are now harvesting CCTV and social media images as part of a criminal investigation into violent disturbances at the site.

The Public Order Unit cleared people gathered at the site again on Tuesday. No arrests were made. 

With reporting by Jane Moore