An Garda Síochána confirmed a fire broke out at a premises on the Malahide Road in Coolock, Dublin at around 9 pm last night, Thursday, July 18.
The premises, the former Crown Paints factory, has been the site of protests throughout the week as renovations were set to begin there to accommodate some 500 asylum seekers.
No injuries have been reported in relation to last night's fire, which is reportedly being treated as suspected arson.
Gardaí and emergency services attended the incident on Thursday evening, Gardaí said.
The Dublin Fire Brigade said on Thursday night that two fire engines were at the scene at the former Crown paints building in Coolock and that the fire in the lobby had been contained.
Two fire engines are on scene at a fire in the former Crown paints building in #Coolock.
The fire in a lobby area has been contained and we expect firefighting operations to be wound down soon. pic.twitter.com/d8GfRBpxoe
— Dublin Fire Brigade (@DubFireBrigade) July 18, 2024
Garda and public order units arrived at the scene shortly after the fire started along with units from the Dublin Fire Brigade.
Dublin Fire Brigade personnel left the scene shortly after 10 pm after bringing the fire under control, but a crowd of around 200 protesters remained outside the Crown Paints factory.
Gardaí took up a position directly outside the former factory, forcing protesters to gather on the opposite side of the Malahide Road.
Footage of the incident posted on social media shows flames and thick black smoke rising from the factory as several protesters cheered outside the premises.
Some videos seen by IrishCentral show bystanders cheering on as smoke rose into the air.
RTÉ reports that there have now been more than 30 suspected arson attacks on properties designated for International Protection applicants, including several properties that were wrongly believed to be for asylum seekers.
Thursday's fire broke out three days after what An Garda Síochána deemed "serious public order" incidents on the Malahide Road in Coolock on Monday.
Over 200 members of An Garda Síochána were deployed in the operation, including frontline uniformed Gardaí, supported by Public Order Gardaí.
Gardaí said they subjected to both verbal and physical abuse throughout the day, which escalated into rocks, fireworks, and other object. Thts being launched towards them.
A number of fires were lit and official Garda vehicles seriously damaged.
As the situation intensified, members of An Garda Síochána used force to defend themselves as part of an escalated response to the situation. Assistance was provided by members of An Garda Síochána Public Order Unit and the Garda Air Support Unit. The use of force included the use of incapacitant spray and deployment of Public Order Gardaí in Public Order helmets and shields.
On Monday evening, 15 people appeared before a special sitting of the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin. Four more people were charged the following day.
A burnt out JCB in Coolock.
On Tuesday, concrete barricades were erected at the site. Protesters gathered have gathered at the barricades in recent days.
Some graffiti on the barricades says "F--- da guarda," "rats," "Irish Only," and "get them out."
Concrete barricades in Coolock, Dublin. (RollingNews.ie)
On Friday, The Journal reported that Tánaiste Micheál Martin, who is in Addis Ababa, said he had not yet been fully briefed on the fire.
He said, however: "We have to look at everything in perspective.
“My understanding is that there was security at the site, but there are people out there who are determined to do things in a disruptive way, and I condemn that.
“We have to be very clear in condemning arson condemning the destruction of property – that’s criminal behavior.”
"It’s not satisfactory that people would get access to a site. More importantly, why would people do that?"
Later on Friday, The Irish Times reported that there was a major garda operation underway in Coolock as hundreds of people gathered for a protest outside the former Crown Paints factory site.
Malahide Road Coolock
Several hundred protestors have turned up outside the former Crown Paints factory, the Malahide Road now blocked after protestors occupied a section just after 6pm pic.twitter.com/hI6CBvJkhB
— Conor Lally (@conormlally) July 19, 2024
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