Gardai have launched a criminal probe into what they suspect to be an arson attack on the former Crown Paints factory in north Dublin’s Coolock.
The blaze broke out just after 9pm on Thursday at the site, which was being refurbished to house over 500 asylum seekers.
Dublin Fire Brigade contained the fire in the lobby area after deploying two fire engines into service. Gardai and Public order units had also rushed to the scene.
The site on the Malahide Road witnessed violent clashes between anti-immigration protesters and Gardai on Monday and led to the arrest of more than 30 people. The ‘Coolock Says No’ demonstrators, who have been opposing the accommodation centre for International Protection applicants at the site, set alight a JCB and damaged a number of Gardai vehicles on the night of violence.
Disturbances were also reported on the following day, with Gardai stepping in to clear demonstrators from the site.