Concern over 'heavy handed' garda approach to Tipperary asylum seeker protest in Dundrum

Councillor Liam Browne has issued a statement regarding the movement of International Protection Applicants into Dundrum House Hotel this morning.

The IPAS applicants were moved into the grounds of the hotel this morning, a decision which has been protested by locals in the area since May of this year.

Speaking on the matter, Cllr Browne said: "It is a dark day for democracy in Ireland, when the State sees no issue in using an overwhelming show of Garda force, to push a decision on a community that they simply do not understand. For eleven weeks, this day hung over the community like a dark cloud, and the Government gave the people of Dundrum exactly two hours of their time to ask questions."

"And despite those questions being asked over two weeks ago, none were answered but the decision to move people into Dundrum went ahead. Instead of consultation, the people got dictation. Instead of answers they got pushed aside," he added.

"There is a seething anger building up right across the country. As much as people have an issue with the unlimited number of people now coming into the country, they are disgusted by an increasing realisation that their voices do not matter, that they are not being heard, and in reality, they are not even being listened to. There is no doubt that immigration is going to become a big issue in any upcoming election, and then we’ll get the usual knee jerk responses and broken promises. Surely, we deserve better than this," he said.