Three people have been arrested by gardaí investigating an arson incident at a former pub in Ringsend, Dublin that was falsely rumoured to be earmarked for asylum seeker accommodation.
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.
A Garda spokesman said four residential properties were searched under warrant on Thursday morning during an operation in the Dublin area.
“Two males aged in their 30s and 50s and female in her 20s were arrested and number of items of evidential value were seized, including electronic devices, in the course of the operation,” he added in a statement.
The woman was later released without charge on Thursday afternoon.
Gardaí are still keen to speak to anyone with information about the incident and can be contacted at Irishtown station (01) 666 9600, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any garda station.
Anti-immigrant agitators had claimed the building in Ringsend 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.
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