A house which was burned down in an arson attack in Co Kildare on Wednesday was being monitored by gardaí due to false rumours it was to be used to accommodate asylum-seekers.
The owner of the Leixlip property had also taken additional security measures before the fire after being warned by gardaí that it could be the target of an attack by anti-immigration or far-right activists.
The seven-bed dormer bungalow on the Celbridge Road, which was purchased last year for more than €1 million, was set on fire in the early hours of Wednesday.
Several protests had taken place there in the previous week involving locals and well-known far-right activists from outside the area.
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Gardaí said on Thursday that they had visited the protesters and engaged with them several times to inform them there were no plans to use the building as asylum-seeker accommodation. However, the protests continued.
Appealing for witnesses to come forward, Supt Georgina Gray said it was the second time the house had been targeted in an arson attack in recent weeks.
The first attempt caused minor damage and local gardaí afterwards conducted regular patrols and provided security advice to the owner, she said.
Supt Gray said a “major” investigation has begun into the latest attack, which destroyed much of the property. A technical and forensic examination has been carried out and a senior investigating officer appointed to co-ordinate inquiries.
Gardaí are also examining a large amount of CCTV in an attempt to identify those responsible.
There have been almost 20 attacks in the last year on properties around the country following rumours, often incorrect, that they were to be used as refugee or asylum seeker accommodation.
Supt Gray said gardaí are co-ordinating with units elsewhere to determine if the Leixlip fire is linked to other incidents. As of now, gardaí do not believe the attacks are being centrally coordinated.
She appealed to people who come across misinformation to seek clarity from gardaí or their local representatives. “Misinformation creates fear among the public, especially in a local area. Please do not listen to it,” she said.
Meanwhile, two men and a woman have been arrested by gardaí investigating an arson incident at a former pub in Ringsend, Dublin. The woman was later released without charge.
The former Shipwright pub on Thorncastle Street was gutted by a fire in late December. A technical examination of the scene determined that the blaze was an act of criminal damage.
Anti-immigrant agitators had claimed the building was to be used for housing asylum-seekers. However, it was actually being readied for use by Dublin Regional Homeless Executive (DHRE) to house homeless families, including some from the local area.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said on Thursday that he views the burning of buildings because of their potential use as accommodation for people of a different nationality or race as a “very clear hate crime”.
When asked about the spate of arson attacks during an interview on Newstalk, Mr Varadkar said he was “confident that we will be bringing people to justice for committing these crimes”.
He said there is not believed to be one gang travelling around the country committing the arson attacks.
“There are some that are doing it opportunistically, others who are connected to extreme right racist views who are more organised in what they’re doing,” he added.
“The biggest worry that I would have is that somebody is going to get killed or seriously injured whether it’s a nightwatchman or a security guard or, you know, maybe even somebody sleeping rough in one of these buildings.”
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