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Fire at Galway hotel due to house asylum seekers

RTÉ Ross Lake House hotel, in RosscahillRTÉ
No one was in then hotel which has not been in use for a number of years

A fire, which broke out at a hotel in County Galway on Saturday night, is being investigated as a criminal damage incident by gardaí (Irish police).

It started at the Ross Lake House hotel, in Rosscahill, at around 23:35 local time before being brought under control by fire services.

No one was in the hotel at the time - the site has not been in use for a number of years.

It had been due to accommodate 70 asylum seekers this week and protesters were at the site earlier on Saturday, according to Irish broadcaster RTÉ.

Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar condemned the incident and said there was "no justification for violence, arson or vandalism in our Republic".

In a statement, he said those carrying such crimes are a "very small minority", adding that "the response from many communities has been incredible".

The Ross Lake, which is in private ownership, had been offered a one-year contract to house international protection applicants.

Protesters had gathered to form a blockade at the entrance of the hotel in opposition to government plans to house the asylum seekers on the premises from Thursday.

Gardaí have preserved the scene and a technical examination will take place later today.

Tánaiste, Micheál Martin, posted on X, formely Twitter, that there was no excuse for the incident.

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Green Party Senator Pauline O'Reilly said she was "utterly disgusted" by the fire.

She said what took place in Rosscahill is not representative of people in Galway or Ireland.