'If State buys Citywest, it'll never come back to the people of the area'

Extra.ie​

3 days ago

Staff have been threatened with a hammer, spat at, intimidated and assaulted numerous times abt two asylum centres in the capital in the last six months, Extra.ie can reveal.
In one case, a resident spat at staff and threatened to kill them before gardaí were called.
In another, a resident was arrested after assaulting staff and threatening them with a hammer. Dirty needles, drug use and theft are also recorded among the nearly 200 incidents reported at the Citywest asylum centre in the last six months. Pic: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin
The centre has been the location for a multitude of violent incidents since January 1 this year.
Between Citywest and another centre in Dún Laoghaire, there have been numerous threats and assaults to staff and other asylum seekers.
Information released to Extra.ie under Freedom of Information legislation, shows how violence and illegal activity is still plaguing the Citywest campus two years on from a mass brawl which left five people hospitalised. Pic: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin
In the last six months alone, 20 assaults have been logged by City­west staff.
Some of the reports do not specify whether an incident happened in Citywest or Dún Laoghaire.
Just one part of the report, written about incidents that happened in February, March and April includes: 'aggressive threats towards staff; stabbing/self harm; aggressive behaviour towards staff; drinking alcohol/aggressive and abusive behaviour towards staff; physical altercation; physical altercation/aggressive behaviour to staff'; assault/aggressive behaviour/smoking inside/blocking fire exit; altercation between two residents; altercation between two residents; serious altercation between residents; assault/aggressive behaviour, smoking inside; assault of staff members/aggressive behaviour/intimidation/abusive towards residents/hammer/arrested; aggressive behaviour/assault/abusive towards staff.' Pic: Colin Keegan/Collins Dublin
On February 22, three reports record: 'aggressive and assault towards staff and residents/spitting at staff/threat of life/arrest.'
Other worrying reports logged by staff at the Citywest campus include how one resident was discovered with a knife.
In total, there have been 193 incidents logged by staff at the Citywest centre between January 1 and June 30 this year.
Some of these include petty offences such as the 'theft of €20' and the 'theft of trousers'. Other items stolen at the campus include power banks, prayer mats, shoes and headphones.
However, the incidents include evidence of hard drug taking with a used needle discovered in the toilets of the centre on May 1 this year.
There are also three different incidents which have been redacted by the Department of Justice included in the total.
However, they all mentioned how gardaí were required to investigate.
There were also over a dozen incidences of trespass at Citywest. On one occasion, staff reported eggs being thrown at residents by people who had illegally made their way onto the campus near Saggart.
The presence of cannabis at the Citywest site was also recorded on several occasions, according to the documents released to us. This resulted in the drugs being confiscated and destroyed, records showed.
It emerged in June that the City­west campus, which was being rented by the Government to house refugees, was being bought by the Government and will remain as an accommodation centre for over 2,300 people seeking asylum while their applications are processed.
The Government confirmed it signed off on the €148.2 million deal to acquire the Citywest Hotel and Convention Centre in southwest Dublin.
The announcement sparked concern among local residents. Protesters from Saggart gathered outside Leinster House to oppose the purchase, citing fears over the loss of public access to the hotel complex and increased strain on local services.
Junior Minister Colm Brophy addressed the concerns, saying engagement with local representatives would be prioritised to ensure transparency and communication with the community.
'Very importantly, the purchase of Citywest will not result in any immediate increase in numbers,' he said.
At the protest following news of the Government's purchase of the site, protesters repeatedly said the area can not support so many people for a long period.
Bernie Cronin, from Clondalkin, said 200 people met two weeks ago where concerns were raised about the Government plan to buy Citywest Hotel.
Mr Cronin, who is a former member of Fine Gael and a current member of Independent Ireland, said it has been the area's 'greatest amenity' for 40 years.
'If the Government buys it, it will never come back to the people of Saggart and the surrounding districts as the superb and magnificent luxury hotel it has been for 40 years,' he said.
He said locals have 'no concern' about its current use as an IPAS centre for housing asylum seekers.
Mr Cronin said there have been concerns by the group others could 'hijack what we are trying to do'.
Asked about 'outside elements' at the protest, Mr Cronin said: 'They don't help us and I know that's a concern.'
'It's not a question about race, it's about space,' Saggart resident Susan Murphy said.
The Justice Minister said there are no immediate plans to increase capacity at the site.
The Department of Justice, in a statement said it is also in ongoing discussions to ensure the leisure centre on the site remains open to the public following the purchase. The leisure centre has approximately 3,000 members and is a valuable amenity for the local community.