Two men arrested over arson attack at site of former Shipwright pub released without charge

In a statement this morning, gardaí said all three, including a woman aged in her 20s, and two men, aged in their 30s and 50s, who were arrested during an operation in Dublin on February 8, as part of this investigation, have been released without charge.

Files will now be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

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

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

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 rumoured so.

“There is a very significant operation under way,” Mr Varadkar said on Newstalk’s The Pat Kenny Show yesterday morning.

“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 today, gardaí said: “Two males, aged in their 30s and 50s, who were also arrested during an operation in Dublin on 8th February 2024, as part of this investigation, have been released without charge.

“An Garda Síochána continues to appeal to anyone with information in relation to this investigation to contact Irishtown Garda Station at 01 666 9600, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.

“Additionally, An Garda Síochána appeals to anyone with information on any other reported incidents of arson to come forward. Information can be provided through the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or by contacting any member of An Garda Síochána.”

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.

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.