Fire breaks out at site earmarked to house asylum seekers in Coolock

By PA Reporter

A fire has broken out at a site earmarked to house asylum seekers in north Dublin.

The former Crown Paints factory in Coolock has witnessed violent disorder this week amid protests at the accommodation plan.

Gardaí came under sustained attack at the disused factory through Monday.

Fifteen people – 13 men and two women – appeared before a late-night sitting at the Criminal Courts of Justice on Monday, charged with a range of public order offences.

Six others appeared in court on Tuesday.

A number of Garda cars were damaged during the disturbances on Monday and public order officers used incapacitant spray on anti-immigration protesters who threw missiles at them.

On Thursday evening, the Dublin Fire Brigade said two fire engines had attended the scene.

In a statement, it said: “The fire in a lobby area has been contained and we expect firefighting operations to be wound down soon.”

Late on Thursday night, gardaí confirmed they were at the scene, with a spokeswoman describing it as a “live and ongoing operation”.