A fire that ripped through a rural hotel intended to house 70 refugees is being treated as arson by gardaí.
Flames engulfed the 19th century Georgian Ross Lake House Hotel in Rosscahill, near Oughterard, Co, at 11.35pm on Saturday. Galway – just hours after demonstrators formed a blockade outside the entrance, protesting against government plans to house international protection applicants there from Thursday.
The fire broke out at the back of the hotel and by the time firefighters arrived it was almost completely engulfed.
The fire brigade had the fire under control after several hours and no one was injured in the building when the fire broke out.
The hotel, which had 13 rooms and suites and was built in 1850, was previously an estate of the landed gentry, who appreciated it for its 'serenity'.
An inferno ripped through a 19th century Georgian country hotel in Galway. Police are treating the fire as suspected arson
A Google image of the Ross Lake House Hotel, in Rosscahill, Co.Galway. The fire broke out at the back of the hotel
Hours earlier, demonstrators formed a blockade outside the hotel entrance, opposing the Integration Ministry's plans to house candidates there.
Local residents, of which 300 live in the area, were informed by government officials last Friday.
Integration Minister Roderic O'Gorman condemned what he called a “disgraceful act.”
He wrote of
Sinn Féin housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin said: “This is not who we are as a people. We are so much better than this. We cannot tolerate this hatred.”
Socialist Party deputy Ruth Coppinger tweeted: “So there is a blockade and then a fire. Disgusting racism and all this while gardaí, media, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael watch.”
The hotel was privately owned and had not been used for years.
Protesters outside the hotel on Saturday, who did not want to be identified, said they were “willing to stay there for as long as it took for the government to reverse their decision.”
One woman, who did not want to be named, said she was 'shocked' after the fire and asked: 'What kind of individual sets fire to a building instead of allowing vulnerable people to live there?'
A map showing the location of the fire that started at 11:35 PM on Saturday
The fire brigade has brought the fire under control and a technical examination of the location will take place later in the day
Speaking on RTÉ Radio One This Week, Green Party Senator Pauline O'Reilly said: 'I think all the actions that have taken place there are pure intimidation. I am completely outraged.
“I don't think this is representative of the people of Galway and people need to remember that it is not just those who come to seek refuge legally, but also those who have come to our country and the kind of fear this creates in people.
“There are ways to talk to politicians and make points, but blocking a place, which makes people feel unwelcome when they are housed somewhere legally, is unacceptable.”
It is unclear whether refugees are now being received locally.
Ms O'Reilly said: 'If a place becomes available it should be used to house people' and 'we cannot discriminate against the kind of people we want'.
“The incitement by local politicians and the total silence from senior politicians in the area, from the government and from the opposition, and I would ask everyone to come out and condemn this kind of behavior because it is simply not acceptable in our community,” she said.
Protests continued in Wexford yesterday against turning the old Great Western Hotel into an international conservation centre.
The protests, which have blocked Europort traffic in both directions, are now in their second month.
Protesters formed a blockade outside the entrance, protesting against government plans to house applicants for international protection there
Speaking at the recent Oireachtas Justice Committee inquiry into the Dublin riots, Green Party TD Patrick Costello said: 'In Buncrana there are reports of community organizations coming together to carry out vigilante patrols. There were checkpoints in Dromahair. People were questioned. We also saw that in Inch.'
The Taoiseach and Tánaiste condemned the attack, while Justice Secretary Helen McEntee said she was “shocked” and added: “There is no justification for arson. While people have the right to protest, people do not have the right to cause damage to property, cause people to fear for their safety or threaten public order.”
The Integration Department was contacted for comment.
Contact Clifden Garda Station on 095 22500, or the confidential line on 1800 666 111.