Taoiseach says ‘significant operation underway’ as three people arrested by gardaí investigating New Year’s Eve arson attack on former Dublin pub

The Shipwright pub and guesthouse in Ringsend was being renovated to provide emergency accommodation for homeless families.

The two men, aged in their 30s and 50s, and a woman’s in her 20s were arrested and number of items, including electronic devices, were seized in searches carried out at four residential properties.

All three are currently being quizzed for alleged offences under the Criminal Damage Act at a Garda station in the Dublin Region.

Speaking this morning, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said there have been “a number of raids” carried out as part of a garda operation following arson attacks on asylum centres.

“There is a very significant operation underway this morning and the gardaí will be out later on and will make a full statement on it,” he told Pat Kenny on Newstalk.

“There have been arrests so I am confident that we will bring people to justice for committing these crimes.

“Arson is a very serious crime, punishable by up to ten years in prison.”

Mr Varadkar said “we need to catch the people” who are carrying out arson attacks. He added that it’s understood they're not being carried out by one gang travelling around the country.

“They are different in nature. There are some who are doing it opportunistically, others who are connected to extreme and racist views who are more organised in what they’re doing,” he said.

He said a lot of planning would have gone into the burning down of the St Brigid’s Nursing Home in Crooksling near the Dublin-Wicklow border over the weekend.

“That was a big building to burn that down and took a degree of knowledge. In other places it hasn’t been arson on that scale.”

Mr Varadkar said migration to Ireland is a solution to the country’s problems, highlighting that many migrants work in important sectors including health.

In a statement today, gardaí said: “Three individuals have been arrested by gardaí investigating an arson incident at a premises in Ringsend, Dublin 4 on the 31st of December, 2023.

“As part of this investigation four residential properties were searched under warrant this morning during an operation in the Dublin area.

“Two males aged in their 30s and 50s and female in her 20s were arrested and number of items of evidential value were seized, including electronic devices, in the course of the operation.

“All three are currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 for alleged offences under the Criminal Damage Act at a Garda Station in the Dublin Region.”

Gardaí said they were continuing to appeal to anyone with information in relation to the investigation to contact Irishtown Garda Station 01 666 9600, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.

“An Garda Síochána appeals to any person with any information on any other reported incidents of arson to contact An Garda Síochána either through the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any member of An Garda Síochána,” they added.

The three arrests this morning bring to 10 the total number of persons arrested for arson attacks in recent months.

Five people have been arrested and detained as part of the investigation into criminal damage and public order Incidents on Sandwith Street on May 12, 2023 and a file is currently with the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Two others have been arrested and charged before the District Court in Kerry by gardaí investigating alleged criminal damage to a residential building in Killarney on January 1, 2024.

In addition, four searches have been carried out by gardaí investigating criminal damage to Ross Lake Hotel, Galway.

“Arson (criminal damage by fire) is a very serious offence, carrying a penalty, following conviction on indictment, of up to life imprisonment, gardai warned.