On last night’s episode of the Tonight Show an Irish Independent journalist claimed that there was “zero evidence” that any occupant of asylum centres in Ireland was “a danger to anyone.”
Saying that the fear expressed by local people in towns and villages where the government has decided to establish asylum centres was “entirely misplaced” she accused those who protest outisde asylum centres of being the real danger.
While it’s somewhat astonishing to think that a journalist working for one of Ireland’s biggest publications could be unaware of the many reported incidents which have taken place over recent months adjacent to asylum centres, perhaps the examples that follow will help in informing her future statements on the issue.
Here are some recent incidents which may help in casting some light on why so many people say they are fearful of asylum centres being established in their local areas.
Before we get into the incidents, however, a disclaimer: Your correspondent is not claiming that these incidents reflect on asylum applicants as a whole, or that every asylum centre resident is a danger to a local community. Instead, we are examining a specific claim: That there is, in the words of Sinead Ryan “zero evidence” supporting the fears of local communities about potential danger arising from these centres.
On the 3rd of January last Clare FM reported that asylum seeker, Khaled Hamama (23) appeared before Ennis District Court “in connection with the alleged assault causing harm to Djabir Gassen at the Central Hotel on Main Street, Miltown Malbay on Christmas Eve, December 24th contrary to Section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act.”
Hamama was also charged with “producing an article, a box cutter, capable of inflicting serious harm during
the course of a fight at the same address on the same date, contrary to Section 11 of Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act.”
On the 3rd of December 2023, the Irish Mirror reported that 29-year-old Algerian asylum seeker Imad Kacimi was accused of spitting a mix of spit and blood into the face of a Garda and causing criminal damage.
A 29 year-old Algerian man accused of spitting a mix of blood and saliva into the face of a Garda and causing criminal damage to a direct provision centre has appeared in court.
At Ennis District Court, Imad Kacimi also appeared in connection with causing criminal damage when smearing his blood on the interior of a wall at Ennis Garda Station and assaulting the Duty Manager of the Clare Lodge direct provision centre in Ennis.
In court on Friday afternoon, Gardai objected to bail for the International Protection (IP) applicant and Garda Amy O’Connor said that Mr Kacimi is no longer welcome at the Clare Lodge, which serves as a direct provision centre for IP applicants on Ennis’s Carmody Street.
In August last year Georgian asylum seeker, Ramazi Nalchutsrishibili, appeared before the courts accused of stabbing a fellow resident in an “unprovoked attack” at a direct provision centre in Bray.
The court heard that “that two males had a verbal dispute that continued onto Meath Road on Monday.” The Irish Mirror reported:
“Detective Garda Brian Saunderson claimed the accused had punched the man in a completely unprovoked attack before the injured party ran out.
The accused allegedly followed him “with a knife in his hand”.
According to the prosecution bail objections, Mr Nalchutsrishibili ran after the injured party and stabbed him in the shoulder area.”
I think most reasonable people would consider punching and stabbing someone in an unprovoked attack ‘dangerous’.
In January last year an armed Garda Response Unit was deployed to the City West asylum hub after a riot broke out between residents in which a subsequent IHREC report flagged the Muslim period of Ramadan as a “flashpoint” for unrest.
As my colleague Dr. Matt Treacy wrote at the time:
“The report says that a serious incident had included “the use of knives, chairs being thrown, and other assaults”.
The fact that around 500 of the men there identified as Muslim had meant that Ramadan had been a “flashpoint” that had led to “significant violent incidents.”
Three men were taken to hospital after sustaining minor injuries during the disturbance.
In October last year it came to light that a Zimbabwean man wanted in connection to a triple murder had used a false name in order to claim asylum in Ireland.
The Sunday Mail reported that Peter Dube was “arrested in Ireland on June 14 this year after The Sunday Mail exposé of how he and his family changed identities before seeking asylum.”
“He was nabbed at a refugee facility in Dublin, before being convicted by a Dublin District Court for violating that country’s immigration laws.” it said.
Perhaps it’s not unreasonable to assume someone wanted in connection to the murder of three women is a “danger”?
In May last year a Georgian national – who authorities initially thought was Russian – appeared before Naas District Court accused of biting a female Garda and attempting to ram a security guard with a vehicle after he was denied entry into the City West asylum centre in Dublin.
At the time of the court hearing Gardaí opposed a bail application for 26-year-old Ivan Matuashvili saying he faced serious allegations and that there was strong evidence against him for the charges.
In January of 2023 six arrests were made in connection to a stabbing incident which took place in a Killarney hotel where 400 male asylum applicants were being housed.
At the time Gript reported: Gardaí in Killarney have arrested another four men as part of an investigation into a stabbing spree at Hotel Killarney where 400 migrants are currently being housed as part of the asylum application process.
Violence broke out at the hotel last night, and up to 6 ambulances and additional Garda vehicles were called to the scene. Gardai took two men into custody last night and have now made another four arrests.
Four men were taken to hospital for treatment after the stabbings but their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.
In November 2023 The Irish Independent reported that an Egyptian man in his 30s was brought to Wexford General Hospital “following an alleged stabbing incident in a Direct Provision Centre in Courtown in Gorey.”
“It is alleged that an argument broke out between two occupants of the centre at around 10am on Saturday, November 25 and the injured man obtained a head injury. The other man involved with the incident was also in his 30s and is originally from Somalia.”
“He appeared before the Gorey District Court on Saturday afternoon and was charged in connection with the incident.”
In November 2022 Gardaí confirmed to Gript that they were investigating an alleged violent incident where a brawl between a number of male residents of the Wicklow Hotel asylum centre spilled out onto the streets causing concern among locals.
https://twitter.com/Dempz8/status/1590724856081158149
Perhaps it’s fair to say Ryan’s “zero evidence” claim fails to hold water.