Ireland Gardaí examine social media posts before Ringsend arson attack
An arson fire gutted the former Shipwright pub on Thorncastle Street in Ringsend, Dublin 4, in the early hours of New Year's Eve 2023, when no one was in the building. The building was being readied to house homeless families, and sources give the time as either around 1.55am on Sunday or around 2am. On 1 January 2024 gardaí set up an incident room at Irishtown Garda Station, and on 2 January they said extra patrols were being mounted around asylum centres and politicians' homes. As of 3 January 2024 no arrests or charges had been reported, and gardaí were examining social media posts made before the fire to see whether they met the threshold of inciting hatred.
- Reported1 Jan
4 reports - Arrested
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Gardaí confirmed that the fire at the former Shipwright pub was arson.
- The disused pub was earmarked as a shelter for homeless people and was being readied for use by the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive to house homeless families.
- Other details
- The Government and the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive said the building was being refitted for homeless people, not asylum seekers.
- No people were in the building at the time of the fire, which caused substantial damage and took six fire tenders several hours to bring under control.
- The site had previously been the scene of protests by people opposed to asylum seekers being housed there.
- Gardaí have begun extra patrols around asylum centres and politicians' homes.
- Where
- The fire was at the former Shipwright pub on Thorncastle Street in Ringsend, Dublin 4.
- When
- The fire broke out on New Year's Eve 2023, at around 1.55am on Sunday according to one report and around 2am according to another.
- Cause
- Investigators believe far-right sympathisers targeted the building, and Garda sources said a deliberate campaign of false claims about its intended use had been orchestrated.
- Some social media posts called for an attack on the premises before the fire.
- Investigation
- A technical examination found the blaze was an act of criminal damage, and a major criminal investigation is being led by a Senior Investigating Officer at Irishtown Garda Station.
- Gardaí have set up an incident room and are appealing for witnesses, dash-cam or camera footage, and information from road users and pedestrians in the area between 1.00am and 2.30am.
- Detectives have gathered a large amount of CCTV footage from buildings near the former pub.
- Gardaí are examining social media content posted before the attack to see whether it meets the threshold of inciting hatred.
- Charges
- No arrests or charges had been reported as of 3 January 2024.
41 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe attack was an arson on a premises earmarked as a shelter for homeless people. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatGardaí confirmed the blaze was arson. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatA fire gutted the former Shipwright pub in Ringsend, Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe building was being readied for use by the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive to house homeless families. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe attack took place on Thorncastle Street in Ringsend, Dublin 4. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe arson targeted the former Shipwright pub in Ringsend, south central Dublin. (dublinlive.ie)
- whereThe fire was at the former Shipwright pub in Ringsend, Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe fire was at the disused Shipwright Pub in Ringsend. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe attack occurred at around 1.55am on Sunday. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe fire broke out around 2am on New Year's Eve. (dublinlive.ie)
- whenThe fire happened on New Year's Eve. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe fire broke out in the early hours of New Year's Eve. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe attack is believed to have been started by far-right sympathisers. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeInvestigators believe members of the far right targeted the building. (dublinlive.ie)
- causeThe attackers reportedly believed the building was being renovated to house asylum seekers. (dublinlive.ie)
- causeGardaí confirmed the fire was the work of arsonists. (irishtimes.com)
- causeGarda sources said a deliberate campaign of false claims about the building's intended use had been orchestrated. (irishtimes.com)
- causeGardaí have confirmed the fire was the work of arsonists. (irishtimes.com)
- causeFar-right agitators ran a misinformation campaign claiming the premises was to be used for international protection applicants. (irishtimes.com)
- causeSome social media posts called for an attack on the premises before the arson. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationAn incident room has been set up at Irishtown Garda Station, and a Senior Investigating Officer is leading the investigation. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí are appealing to anyone with information about the incident to contact them. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí are asking road users and pedestrians in the area between 1.00am and 2.30am who saw unusual activity to contact them. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí are asking anyone travelling in the Ringsend area who has camera or dash-cam footage to make it available. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationDetectives have harvested a large amount of CCTV footage from buildings near the old pub. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationGardaí appealed for witnesses to the attack. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationA technical examination determined the blaze was an act of criminal damage. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationA major criminal investigation into the blaze has begun at Irishtown Garda station under a senior investigating officer. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí are examining social media content shared before the attack to see if it meets the threshold of inciting hatred. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe investigation team at Irishtown Garda station believes local community members hold vital information. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe fire took six fire tenders several hours to bring under control. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe site had previously been the scene of protests by people opposed to asylum seekers being housed there. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe Government said the building was being renovated for members of the homeless community. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe Dublin Regional Homeless Executive said the building was not for asylum seekers. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherDublin Fire Brigade attended the scene and extinguished the fire. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherNo people were in the building at the time of the fire. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- otherThe fire caused substantial damage to the property. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- otherGardaí are aware of a significant volume of misinformation, disinformation and rumour about the building's use. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe building was actually being refitted as a homeless shelter for people in the south inner city. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherGardaí have begun extra patrols around asylum centres and politicians' homes. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherThe building was being readied for use as a hub for homeless families. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 3 Jan2024Gardaí investigating social media posts before Ringsend arson attack
Broader feature on hate-based arson against buildings earmarked for asylum seekers or homeless people, centred on the Ringsend fire. Adds that social media content posted before the attack is being examined for incitement to hatred, that the building was being readied as a hub for homeless families, and that the investigation team is appealing to the local community for information. No arrests are reported.
- 2 Jan2024Archbishop of Dublin warns of rampant ‘rhetoric of polarisation’ in wake of Ringsend arson attack
Adds that gardaí confirmed the fire was arson, a technical examination determined criminal damage, a major criminal investigation began at Irishtown Garda station, and Garda sources said a deliberate campaign of false claims about the building's use had been orchestrated. Also adds reaction from Archbishop Dermot Farrell and Cllr Danny Byrne. The building was being readied to house homeless families.
- 2 Jan2024Gardai mount extra patrols around asylum centres after Ringsend arson attack
Adds that gardaí confirmed the fire was arson, that investigators believe far-right members targeted the building, that it was being refitted as a homeless shelter, that CCTV was being examined and that gardaí appealed for witnesses. Also reports extra garda patrols around asylum centres and TDs' homes.
- 1 Jan2024Gardaí set-up incident room for arson attack on Dublin homeless shelter
Adds that an incident room has been set up at Irishtown Garda Station with a Senior Investigating Officer, that the attack is believed to be far-right motivated, the Thorncastle Street location and 1.55am timing, the premises' disputed use as a homeless shelter versus asylum accommodation, and appeals for witnesses and dash-cam footage. No arrests are mentioned.