Residents of the tiny village of Dundrum are “devastated” this morning as a “small army of Gardaí”, including the Public Order Unit, are being used to “push through” three buses of migrants claiming asylum into the Tipperary village, despite widespread objections.
Locals had placed a barrier at the gates of the Dundrum House Hotel site but they were dragged away from that by members 0f the Gardaí this morning. Four vans of riot squad Gardaí were present this morning, local TD Mattie McGrath said, and were being used to “force through” a centre that the village did not want.
The Tipperary TD, who said he was at the protest since last night as an observer, said that road blocks had been placed on roads leading into the village, while there had been a high presence Gardaí all night. He said that he been told that the authority of the riot squad superseded that of the local Gardaí
Protesters called out “shame on you”, “peaceful protest” and “Dundrum is full” as Gardaí stationed themselves between the residents of the village and the buses carrying the IPAS residents into the former hotel. Approximately 200 people live in Dundrum village – while 280 migrants are now expected to be housed there.
Shocking scenes in Dundrum right now old age pensioner receiving cancer treatment dragged to the ground and ARRESTED. Shame on you 💔 pic.twitter.com/iApOXu8Wal
— Clonmel Concerned Residents (@ClonmelConcern) August 13, 2024
Mattie McGrath said there were “more Gardaí than local people in the village this morning”, adding that “a small army of Gardaí” were being used to push the IPAS centre through and that the local residents were “devastated”.
Locals have maintained a rolling protest at the site of the Dundrum House Hotel for 77 days in opposition to the IPAS centre, saying that the number of asylum seekers would outnumber the people living in the village. Speaking to Gript, residents said that the government had “gone rogue” in regard to the issue.
They had said that promises had been made to the community that the hotel would be restored and upgraded with plans for a distillery – and that they had been led to believe that the placement of 277 Ukrainians was a temporary arrangement for the centre.
Local woman, Fiona Kennedy, told Tipp FM that what is being proposed will destroy the village – adding that everyone believed that the number of asylum applicants would eventually grow to 550 people because of the capacity on offer.
She also said that local people felt they “had no say” and that despite their opposition they were being told they “must double your population with complete strangers” without their consent.
She referred to previous statements made by the government, such as ensuring a community hotel for Roscrea or stating that any village or town with just one town would not be expected to lose the amenity to provide asylum accommodation.
However, a Government briefing note sent to local political representatives in May said that Dundrum House was now a “hybrid property”, meaning it would accommodate IPAs as well as the Ukrainian refugees under the Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection Programme, Tipp FM reported.
Ms Kennedy also told the Tipperary Star that the people of Dundrum were being lied to by the Government.
“None of this is being done out of compassion, it’s a money making exercise, and the money that is changing hands is unbelievable, and unfortunately the Government is allowing businesses to sell out their communities, sell out just for a mighty buck, you know, and that’s really the thrust of it,” she said.
A petition to halt the of the hotel as an IPAS centre has been launched, with residents of the small village saying their chief concerns were:
“Safety: Increased crime rates and anti-social behaviour have been documented around IPAS centres, raising real concerns for our community’s safety.
Loss of Tourism: The hotel’s conversion means no longer having tourists and access to the golf course, golf club, and leisure facilities. Loss of tourism traffic to the hotel is a loss to local and surrounding economies. While the hotel itself will earn significant amounts of money as an IPAS Centre, very little of this (if any) will filter into the local economy.
• Strain on Resources: The presence of a large IPAS facility will strain already stretched local resources, including healthcare, education, and public services.
• Community Cohesion: Integrating a large group of IPAS residents into such a small rural area can pose challenges, with potential cultural and social tensions arising from differing lifestyles and needs.
• Current Residents: The current Ukrainian residents, who have integrated so well into the community, are being moved, against their will, from their accommodation to make way for IPAS residents, many of whom will, as in other centres, likely be undocumented and unvetted.”
“Preserving Dundrum House Hotel means more than maintaining a building; it means keeping our community safe and sustaining the economic and social lifeblood of our area,” they said.