Leitrim locals deny checkpoints were set up after proposed housing of asylum seekers there
The gardaí were alerted the protest on Friday night in Dromahair, but it took an hour and a half for them to arrive from Manorhamilton.
A spokesperson for "concerned citizens" in Dromahair, Co Leitrim has denied reports of road blocks being established on Friday to prevent rumoured asylum seekers from arriving.
Protests had been held in Dromahair over the weekend due to the proposed housing of asylum seekers in the town. The protests, organised by a group known as Dromahair Concerned Citizens, have been held outside the Abbey Manor Hotel in the village.
Fiona McPadden told RTÉ radio’s that there had been “a lot of tension” in the area when rumours started last Friday that buses were transporting 91 men from City West to the Abbey Manor hotel.
The previous Wednesday, November 22, a crowd of 400 residents of the village had gathered to raise their concerns, she explained. The organisers had asked people not to bring signs or placards and the event was “very peaceful”.
However, the protest on Friday night was attended by people “we didn’t know”, she said, and the community was frustrated at the lack of communication and consultation by the Department of Integration.
There was “a lot of tension” at the gathering outside the hotel on Friday night, she said. The gardaí were alerted, but it took an hour and a half for them to arrive from Manorhamilton.
Gardaí told the earlier this week that they attended the scene of a “public gathering” on Friday, following reports from locals. “Gardaí are carrying out enquiries following reports of incidents related to this public gathering,” a spokesperson said.
Efforts were made by local political representatives to get confirmation from the department, added Ms McPadden.
“On Wednesday, when we had organised the gathering, it was organised very quickly and we had about 400 people arrive at the hotel. All residents from here. And we had asked them to come and not bring any signs or placards or banners or anything, that we just wanted to peacefully voice their concerns and have them acknowledged.
“We didn't foresee that anything was going to happen very quickly. We knew the hotel was ready for occupancy, but we didn't expect refugees to arrive so quickly. And on Friday I had basically heard in the evening that rumours started going out that there was 91 on the way.
“We were worried about 91 men. I mean, we're worried about 31 men coming up. But I suppose people were afraid and I suppose they were frustrated at the lack of communication and the lack of consultation. There didn't seem to have been any respect for the community and what had happened up to that point.”
When asked if international protection applicants were welcome in Dromahair, Ms McPadden said Dromahair was not saying no to refugees, they just wanted the department to reconsider the numbers and to send families.
The population of the village was 939 in the last census, she said. A petition had recently been signed by 800 saying they would prefer families only.
“We would like to have a say in who lives in Dromahair. We're very happy to welcome families here.” Ms McPadden said the concern was that if people were put into a small building in any village “you give them €38 a week and there’s nothing to do, you’re going to have issues regardless of where they come from.”
