Two held over arson attack at site of former Shipwright pub

One of the three, a woman aged in her 20s, was released without charge yesterday afternoon. Two men – one aged 50 and the other in his 30s – remain in garda custody.

The former Shipwright pub on Thorncastle Street in Ringsend, Dublin, was gutted by fire on New Year’s Eve.

One line of investigation is that the suspects, who live in Ringsend, may have been influenced by far-right agitators.

The three are not known to gardaí for involvement in any form of serious criminality.

Their alleged involvement in the arson attack on the vacant pub is believed to be a “localised issue”.

There is no suspicion they are involved in any other arson attacks targeting properties linked to asylum-seekers.

Four searches were carried out yesterday in Ringsend, leading to the three arrests.

It is understood that clothing as well as electronic devices were seized.

The Shipwright pub and guesthouse was being renovated to provide emergency accommodation for homeless families at the time of the arson attack.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said “a number of raids” had been carried out as part of a garda operation following arson attacks on asylum centres and properties earmarked for such use, or rum-oured so.

“There is a very significant operation under way this morning and the gardaí will be out later on and will make a full statement on it,” Mr Varadkar said on Newstalk’s The Pat Kenny Show yesterday morning.

“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 10 years in prison.”

The Taoiseach said “we need to catch the people” who are carrying out arson attacks.

He added that, as he understands it, the attacks are not the work of one gang travelling around the country.

“They’re different in nature,” he said. “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.”

Mr Varadkar speculated that a lot of planning went into the burning down of St Brigid’s Nursing Home in Crooksling near the Dublin-Wicklow border last weekend.

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

People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy told the Dáil “we are witnessing a campaign of far-right terrorism”.

Speaking under privilege, he named three individuals present at protests outside buildings that had been earmarked for asylum-seekers and were subsequently targeted in arson attacks.

“People like [three named alleged far-right activists] are quick to the scene. A few days later, it is burned down,” Mr Murphy said.

“We should call what we are seeing what it is. We are witnessing a campaign of far-right terrorism in this state.

“We have seen 26 arson attacks in the last five years against premises rumoured to be used for asylum-seekers.

“What has been the response? Almost nothing. Nobody charged. Fiddling while the country burns. We finally have three arrests for arson.”

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

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

“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.”

A woman in her 20s was later released without charge.

Gardaí said they were continuing to appeal to anyone with information in relation to the investigation to contact Irishtown garda station on 01 666 9600, the garda confidential line on 1800 666 111 or any garda station.

The three arrests bring to 10 the total number of people detained and questioned 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 in Dublin on May 12 last year.

A file is currently with the Director of Public Prosecutions in relation to those arrests.

Two other people have been arrested and charged before the district court in Kerry. This followed gardaí investigating alleged criminal damage to a residential building in Killarney on New Year’s Day.

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