Ombudsman for Children statement on IPAS centre arson attack

“It is unconscionable that children’s lives were put at risk during an arson attack at the weekend. The fact that this comes just a week after violent riots outside another location where children were living, indicates that there is no guaranteed safe space for these children, and no recognition of the severe impact these events can have on their lives. The common thread is that these children, and their families, are seeking international protection in Ireland.

“There is a duty on the State, and us all, to ensure that all human beings who arrive in Ireland, including children, are treated with dignity and that they are safe. Alongside any conversations that are taking place at a Governmental or societal level about immigration and how that is dealt with, there needs to be a focus on the principal of respect for human life. We need strong messaging and information to highlight the lack of humanity at the core of these attacks, and to spell out the long-term impact this is having not only on the children involved, but on all children looking on and seeing that this is becoming acceptable. We were lucky that children and families did not die at the weekend, but make no mistake what we are seeing in this arson attack is the ultimate working out of the narrative of hatred toward immigrants – we cannot let that be the case.

“Ireland should be a country where every child is safe going to bed at night.”

• 3 Samhna 2025
• Cineál: Ráiteas
• Ábhar: Inimirce