Local Councillor Aidan Mullins, alongside multiple residents of Portarlington, have told Gript that “at least” 15 people, who they believe to be asylum seekers, are being lodged in a three-bedroom house in an estate in the Co Laois town – which IPAS has said is not a registered asylum centre.
“15 asylum seekers are in a 3 bed semi D house in a Portarlington estate. The house owner states they have no permission to be there and can’t get them out. The Gardaí, the Council and IPAS are aware but no action taken. IPAS says they didn’t approve this. Who’s responsible?,” Cllr Mullins also tweeted today.
People living in Kilnacourt Woods claim that the large group of people currently staying in a three-bedroom house “has resulted in our street resembling a ghetto, with numerous bunk beds visible through the windows, and constant noise throughout the night”.
Multiple sources, including Cllr Mullins, have told Gript that the owner of the East End Hotel had been seen at the house and, according to residents who have spoken to Gript, those currently staying in the house go to the East End Hotel each day around dinner time.
The East End Hotel, which is operated by Noel and Patrick Martin, is currently an asylum accommodation centre. The Martins and the East End Hotel were in the news in 2019 when the Irish Independent and other media reported on crowded conditions for asylum seekers at the hotel.
Gript contacted Noel Martin, by text and call, asking them to either deny, contextualise, or comment on the claims made by Cllr Mullins, and to clarify if they were involved in the housing of migrants at the house, but we have yet to receive a response.
Gript also attempted to contact IPAS and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) including a direct inquiry to the office of Minister Roderick O’Gorman but we have received no response prior to publication.
The residents themselves claim that they have received a similar lack of response from IPAS and other authorities with regard to the ongoing situation. However, one resident has told Gript that IPAS has confirmed to them that the address in question at Kilnacourt Woods is not registered with them as an accommodation centre.
“We can confirm that the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) has no contract in place to accommodate people applying for International Protection at this address and we are not aware of any people who are accommodated at this address.”
The IPAS email goes on to state that there “may be a private rental agreement with the landlord/owner of the property.”
However, Gript has spoken to the owner of the house who says she attempted to have the residents vacate the premises. She said: “Noel and Patrick Martin are not our tenants, do not pay rent and have no right to be in the property, let alone sub-let to anyone else.”
Cllr Mullins has also notified the Director of Services for Laois County Council of his concerns, and says they are to visit the address in question to investigate the complaints that have been made.
Cllr Mullins said that he has made representations to the Council and to the Gardaí and that the latter have informed him that they are aware of the situation and are making inquiries. The Cllr said that the lack of consultation with residents is completely unacceptable and that the situation needs to be addressed and resolved as quickly as possible.
The East End Hotel is registered with the Companies Registration Office as owned by brothers Noel and Patrick Martin. Both list as an address Court Street, Carrickmacross, County Monaghan.
Among their several directorships, along with a Darren Martin, is of Nera Investments which is owned by Nera Holdings which is ultimately owned through two other companies, Mac Cuill Limited and Mac Gréine Limited, by Noel Martin.
Nera Holdings and Noel Martin wholly own Nera Accommodation which is the company that is in receipt of payments from IPAS for the accommodation of persons claiming International Protection.
Nera Accommodation has, between 2022 and the end of June this year, drawn down over €7 million from IPAS through the Department for the accommodation of persons claiming International Protection.
In their last accounts the company reported taxable profits of €2,361, 538 on which they paid €295,267 in corporation tax. They also have debts of €2,105,660.
As noted above, the Martins and the East End Hotel were in the news in 2019 when it was reported that up to ten asylum seekers were living in one bedroom at the hotel. At that time, the Martins were drawing down payments from the Department of Justice – who were then the line managers for asylum accommodation – through a company called Drumgoan
Drumgoan was mostly owned by Darren Martin but appears no longer to be operating and the CRO register notes that it has “unsatisfied judgements pending.
Another Martin company, Dunkeel, is currently involved in a housing project at Cushina Avenue in Portarlington. It too has a judgement registered against it on behalf of Monaghan County Council.