Petrol On The Stairway

The justice minister [Helen McEntee] last night expressed her support for the garda commissioner’s “hands off” approach to policing far-right protests despite calls for a crackdown on extremists following the violent protests that blockaded the Dail last Wednesday.
- September 24, 2023, The Times

Petrol on the stairway.

Drew Harris, the garda commissioner, has previously said he will not allow gardai to “fall into the trap” of overreacting to the far right, particularly those who stage protests at migrant reception centres.
- September 24, 2023, The Times

Petrol on the stairway.

Since then, an analysis by Prime Time shows there have been at least 31 fires set at properties or locations linked, or rumoured to be linked, to the housing of people seeking asylum or international protection.
- July 26, 2024, RTÉ

Petrol on the stairway.

“People understand the fact that homelessness numbers are heavily impacted by the fact we are seeing many people seek protection in our country, seek asylum in our country….”
- Simon Harris, September 22, 2024, The Times

Petrol on the stairway.

“The majority of people think that the numbers have been too big in recent years, and they’re right”
- Leo Varadker, September 24, 2024, The Observer

Petrol on the stairway.

“I look forward to now seeing chartered flights in conjunction with voluntary deportations, ensuring that we will have a firm and effective system in place to deal with deportations going forward."
- Colm Brophy, February 28, 2025, BBC

Petrol on the stairway.

The controversial proposal to transfer failed applicants to so-called deportation hubs was not something Ireland should “rule out at this stage”, the Fianna Fáil TD [Jim O’Callaghan] said.
- September 26, 2025, The Irish Times

Petrol on the stairway.

“I want the message to go out that if you come to Ireland and you fail in your application for asylum, there will be a consequence. Otherwise, what's the point of having a system?"
- Jim O'Callaghan, Septermber 30, 2025, RTÉ

Petrol on the stairway.

“Our migration numbers are too high, and I think that is really an issue that needs to be considered in a very serious way by Government.”
- Simon Harris, October 29, 2025, The Journal

Petrol on the stairway.

“Ireland is experiencing economic migration and people should not come here if they know “deep down” they won’t be granted international protection”
- Micheál Martin, October 30, 2025, The Irish Times

Petrol on the stairway.

On Thursday, Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe said he agreed with Mr Harris’s comments on immigration, and that the number of people seeking international protection in Ireland has grown.
- October 30, 2025, The Irish Times

Petrol on the stairway.

CCTV footage obtained by The Sunday Times from within the centre showed at least one masked man kicking in a door and pouring what gardaí believe was petrol on the stairway before setting it on fire, an act designed to ensure the occupants could not escape.
- November 1, 2025, The Times

Petrol on the stairway.

An act designed to ensure the occupants could not escape.

“Let no Irishman throw a stone at the foreigner; he may hit his own clansman. Let no foreigner revile the Irish; he may be vilifying his own stock.”
- James Connolly, 1908