Residents of the Turnapin and Royal Oaks area of Santry say they have maintained an overnight presence outside the site of a new direct provision centre in the area.
The factory shed, which is located in the Airway Industrial Estate is set to house 303 male asylum seekers.
Speaking from outside the building, local man Rory Mahon said that locals were determined to continue blocking the shed,
“We won’t let any cars in,” he said, adding “We’re here for the long run,”
Locals told Gript that buses carrying asylum seekers began to arrive at approximately 8am yesterday morning but were prevented from gaining access to the site and eventually turned away.
“We stopped them from getting in,” said a local woman describing how two buses and a number of taxis and a van had been used to transport the men.
Last week Gript spoke to a group of concerned residents in the area who expressed fear and frustration at what they called a lack of political engagement in relation to the issue.
Residents of Santry north county Dublin say they are afraid for the safety of their community after learning that 303 male asylum seekers are to be housed in a factory shed in the area. pic.twitter.com/s91x2OqiuC
— gript (@griptmedia) May 19, 2023
One of the protesters said that local representative Sinn Féin TD Dessie Ellis plans to visit the area this evening however it appears that there is little confidence among the residents that their political representatives are serious about addressing their concerns.
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