On the morning of July 15, 2024, emergency services responded to reports of fires at the site. Footage shared on social media showed parts of the site, including construction machinery and pallets, engulfed in flames. The Dublin Fire Brigade dispatched three fire engines and a turntable ladder to tackle the blazes. Gardaí closed Malahide Road in both directions and implemented local diversions.

The situation escalated into a public order incident, with Gardaí deploying the Public Order Unit and using pepper spray to control the crowd. Protesters threw missiles and petrol bombs, resulting in injuries to several Gardaí and a security guard, who was hospitalised. A Garda car was set alight, and other vehicles were damaged during the clashes.

Fifteen people were arrested and charged in connection with the disturbances. They are due to appear before a special sitting of the Criminal Courts of Justice. The Department of Integration condemned the violence, emphasizing that the site was intended to house up to 500 international protection applicants.

Justice Minister Helen McEntee expressed her outrage at the criminal behavior, vowing to bring those responsible to justice. Taoiseach Simon Harris also condemned the actions, stating that they were designed to sow fear and division. He stressed that such actions should not be legitimized by describing them as protests.

The unrest has sparked a broader conversation about the treatment of asylum seekers and the rise of anti-immigrant sentiment in Ireland. Local residents and officials are calling for calm and urging the community to support integration efforts. The Department of Integration reiterated its commitment to providing safe and secure accommodation for those seeking asylum in Ireland.

This incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by asylum seekers and the need for a balanced approach to integration and community safety. The government and local authorities are working to address these issues and ensure that such violent incidents do not recur.

The designation of a country as “safe” implies that it is generally free from systematic persecution, torture, or inhuman treatment. While individuals from these countries can still apply for international protection in Ireland, they will need to provide compelling evidence to support their claims. Officials stress that the designation of a state as a safe country of origin does not mean that a claim for asylum is inadmissible for anyone coming from that country, or that a person cannot make an application. Instead, it places the onus on the applicant to demonstrate why their case is exceptional and why they are in need of protection.

Currently, Ireland’s safe countries list includes ten other nations: Albania, Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Georgia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and South Africa. The introduction of accelerated processing has significantly reduced the number of applications from these countries, with a reported drop of over 50% since the procedures were introduced in November 2022.

Minister McEntee also highlighted an increase in prosecutions and imprisonments of asylum seekers arriving without proper documentation. This move aims to ensure that those in genuine need of protection receive timely assistance while maintaining the integrity of the asylum process. Over 100 people have been prosecuted this year for arriving without appropriate documentation, with more than 80 cases resulting in imprisonment.

The updated list of safe countries is part of Ireland’s broader efforts to manage immigration effectively and provide protection to those who genuinely need it.