Building in Donegal for asylum-seekers was first to be attacked – report

A BUILDING in Donegal that had been linked to asylum-seekers was the first in a number around the country to have been subjected to an arson attack.

There have been at least 38 arson attacks on occupied, proposed or rumoured international protection centres over the last seven years, a new report from Hope and Courage Collective has found.

The organisation, which monitors far-right activity in Ireland, examined the location of arson attacks on international protection centres since 2018. The report also reveals there were six threats of arson.

Analysis compiled by the Irish Independent reveals three buildings in Donegal were attacked. An Caiseal Mara Hotel in Moville was damaged by fire in November 2018, and is considered the first example of a concerning trend where buildings proposed or rumoured to be purposed to house asylum-seekers were targeted.

According to the analysis, two other buildings in Donegal were also targeted. Ludden Lisfannon was attacked on May 11, 2023, while five days later Sailor’s Rest in Buncrana was targeted.

Hope and Courage Collective executive director Edel McGinley said the data showed “clear links between online agitation and subsequent acts of violence”, warning social media algorithms can amplify hate and false information.