Gardai investigating hotel blaze in Co Galway conduct searches

Gardai investigating an arson attack at a disused hotel where asylum seekers were set to be housed have carried out a series of searches.

The property at Rosscahill in Co Galway was badly damaged in the blaze in December.

The fire at the Ross Lake House Hotel happened days before it was due to accommodate 70 asylum seekers.

It was one of a series of recent incidents of criminal damage at properties that have been earmarked as accommodation for refugees or asylum seekers.

A former pub in Ringsend in Dublin was set alight on New Year’s Eve amid speculation it was going to be used to house immigrants, even though it was actually due to be used for homeless accommodation.

On Thursday, gardai said they were investigating suspected criminal damage by fire at an unoccupied building in Fethard, Co Tipperary.

In regard to the fire at the Ross Lake House Hotel, gardai said they carried out four searches at properties in the Rosscahill area on Saturday morning.

The operation was conducted by Garda members attached to Galway Divisional Crime unit supported by the National Bureau of Crime Investigation.

Gardai said a number of exhibits were seized and they will be subject to analysis that will determine the next stages of the investigation.

The Garda described the investigation to date as “large scale”, with 229 investigative tasks having been conducted to date and 145 statements taken.

Gardai reiterated their appeal for anyone with information about the attack to come forward.