Saturday 31 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 21092Attempted arson · Co. Donegal · 15 May 2023

Firework thrown at refugee accommodation centre in Buncrana

At around 11pm on Monday 15 May 2023, a firework was thrown at The Sailor's Rest accommodation centre in Buncrana, County Donegal, which houses 50 refugees. The owners, Christopher and Sharon Flanagan, say it was an attempt to set fire to the building and that CCTV reportedly shows a clear attempt to throw it through an open window where a mother and her three children were asleep. No injuries or damage were reported. The incident followed a social media campaign against refugees and direct threats to burn the building, and as of 16 May 2023 gardaí were making enquiries into reports of fireworks in the Buncrana area, with no arrest or charge reported.

  1. Reported16 May
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A firework was thrown at The Sailor's Rest accommodation centre building in Buncrana.
  • The owners say the firework was an attempt to set fire to the building.
Where
The centre is close to the town's shorefront in Buncrana, County Donegal.
When
The firework was thrown at around 11pm on Monday night, 15 May 2023.
Cause
The incident follows a social media campaign against the presence of refugees and direct threats to burn the building.
Investigation
  • The owners say CCTV footage reportedly shows a clear attempt to throw a firework through an open window.
  • Gardaí are making enquiries into reports of fireworks set off in the Buncrana area.
Charges
No arrest or charge has been reported in the sources.
Other details
  • The centre houses 50 refugees and opened at the end of March.
  • A mother and her three children were asleep in the room with the open window.
  • No injuries or damage to property were reported.
  • The centre is run by Christopher and Sharon Flanagan, who say residents have been left petrified.
  • A separate Lisfannon arson attack mentioned in the article is not linked to this incident.
10 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA firework was thrown at the accommodation centre building. (donegallive.ie)
  • whatThe owners say the firework was an attempt to set fire to the building. (donegallive.ie)
  • whereThe building is close to the town's shorefront in Buncrana. (donegallive.ie)
  • whenThe firework was thrown at around 11pm on Monday night. (donegallive.ie)
  • causeThe incident follows a social media campaign against the presence of refugees and direct threats to burn the building. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationCCTV footage reportedly shows a clear attempt to throw a firework through an open window. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationGardaí are making enquiries into reports of fireworks set off in the Buncrana area. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherNo injuries or damage to property were reported. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherThe centre houses 50 refugees. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherA mother and her three children were asleep in the room with the open window. (donegallive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 16 May2023
    Reporteddonegallive.ie, first report
    Family left ‘petrified’ by attack on refugee centre in Buncrana

    First report of the firework incident at the Sailor’s Rest centre, including the owners’ account, the CCTV claim, the family inside, and the garda enquiries. It is not linked to the Lisfannon arson attack the article mentions.

    victim