Gardaí had warned of an increase in hate crimes in the Dublin district where a disused pub went on fire over the weekend.
Around 30 fire fighters worked to bring the blaze at the former Shipwright bar in Ringsend under control in the early hours of Sunday morning.
The disused pub and guesthouse was due to accommodate homeless families. No one was inside at the time.
Overnight, firefighters were called to a vacant premises on fire in #Ringsend
6️⃣ Fire engines attended including a turntable ladder to fight the fire from above
💨 Smoke drifted across the area
Thanks to @DubCityCouncil who increased the water supply to the fireground pic.twitter.com/NgswSP6jhG
— Dublin Fire Brigade (@DubFireBrigade) December 31, 2023
Gardaí are investigating whether it was deliberately set alight following protests in recent weeks over rumours the building would be used for asylum seekers.
The Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has expressed his concern about the fire saying "If this was the result of a deliberate act, all efforts will be made to bring the perpetrators to justice."
According to the Herald, city councillors were told of an 11 per cent rise in hate crimes in the south-east area in the months leading up to the fire at a Joint Policing Committee meeting in December.
There were 10 reported hate crimes in the garda district in the previous three months.
Main image: Dublin Fire Brigade
