There have been calls for more protection for those seeking refuge here after two Palestinian refugees were ‘beaten up’ in west Donegal.
People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy raised the incident with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in the Dáil earlier today.
He said that a new centre recently opened in west Donegal that was accommodating people who were fleeing ‘horrific war’and persecution in their own countries.
Deputy Murphy said he understood they have been subject to physical threats, there have been threats to attack the building they’re staying in and that local public representatives have also been threatened.
“Three days ago, two Palestinian men were beaten up, allegedly because they were refugees and because they’re staying here,” he said.
Deputy Murphy asked Taoiseach Varadkar what was being done to keep these people safe and called for the government to urgently intervene. He also wanted to know what was being done to help the asylum seekers to integrate and was any investment being made in the local community to ensure that people were being integrated.
In response, the Taoiseach said the government has a duty of care for people in any State funded facility.
“We do take measures to try to ensure that (people are kept safe), and we have a particular fund as well to recognise all the communities that have accepted International Protection Applicants and Ukrainian people into their areas,” he said.
The Taoiseach said he would provide more detail directly to Deputy Murphy.
Gardaí confirmed to Donegal Daily that an investigation is underway following an assault on two men in Loughanure on Sunday night. The men, both aged in their 30s, later received medical treatment.
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