ALT Le Chéile condemns in the strongest possible terms the cruel and inhumane attack on the IPAS centre in Drogheda last night, where 28 people seeking international protection were living. Five people, including four children—one a baby—had to be rescued from the top floor after fireworks were thrown into the building, sparking a fire. Several babies were hospitalised overnight. This was not only an attack on vulnerable families but an attack on the very values of compassion, dignity, and solidarity that Irish society should stand for.

ALT Far-Right Hypocrisy Exposed This horrifying incident exposes the far-right’s claims of “protecting women and children” for the sham that it is. Far-right agitators consistently weaponize the language of women’s and children’s safety to whip up fear and legitimise racist attacks on migrant men, while remaining silent on the pervasive issue of gender-based violence against women in Ireland unless it can be twisted to spread racism. Their hypocrisy has been shown up time and again, and this attack is the latest in a series of escalating acts of violence that put lives at risk.

ALT Political Context and Responsibility This attack cannot be separated from the toxic political climate fostered by recent comments from Tánaiste Simon Harris, who sought to blame asylum seekers for the challenges facing the country. Such rhetoric deflects responsibility away from the real causes of the housing and cost-of-living crises—decades of policy decisions by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael that entrenched inequality and failed to deliver affordable housing or fair economic policies. By scapegoating asylum seekers, political leaders have created an atmosphere where far-right violence can flourish.

ALT A Call to Action The rise in far-right violence is a direct consequence of government failure to address inequality. Until those root causes are tackled, and as long as politicians continue to deflect blame onto the most vulnerable, there is a very real risk of further violence. Le Chéile urges all those who are angry and horrified by this attack to channel that anger into action: Get involved in local community groups that support inclusion and solidarity. Reach out to asylum seekers in your area, offering friendship and welcome. Challenge racism and far-right talking points whenever you hear them, reminding people that the real source of their frustration lies in government failures, not in families seeking sanctuary.