migrant housing centre in Ireland, USA News (County Kerry, Ireland): One man has died following an attack at a migrant housing centre in Ireland on Saturday morning. The man was found by emergency services with serious injuries before later dying, while another man, in his 40s, was also found injured at the scene. A third man was also discovered with non-life threatening injuries. Police have arrested a man, also in his 40s, following the incident, which took place at the International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) centre in Tralee, County Kerry.
The centre is located at Ballymullen Barracks, which has been designated to house up to 50 male asylum seekers. It is believed the three men – all Somali nationals – were stabbed at the centre, according to the Irish Times reports. A spokesman for the Irish Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration confirmed they were responding to a critical incident.
“An Garda Síochána has commenced a criminal investigation and, while this is underway, the department cannot comment further on the matter at this time,” they said. A Garda spokesman, meanwhile, said they received reports of an assault at a property in Ballymullen at 5.20am this morning.
They stated: “Upon arrival, they discovered an adult male with serious injuries; he was pronounced deceased a short time later. A second man, aged in his 40s, also sustained injuries during the incident and was taken to University Hospital Kerry. His injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. Another man, also in his late 40s, was arrested at the scene in connection with the investigation.”
The spokesman confirmed the man is currently being detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a Garda station in Co Kerry. The Office of the State Pathologist has been notified and the Garda Technical Bureau has been requested to attend the scene. Officials added that the location is being preserved for forensic and technical examination, a post-mortem examination will be arranged, and a senior investigating officer has been appointed while an incident room is being established at Tralee Garda Station.
Garda are appealing for any witnesses, or anyone with information, to contact Tralee Garda Station on 066 7102300, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any garda station. UNHCR figures indicate that last year there were 13,111 applications for asylum made in Ireland, with the majority of applications originating from individuals from Somalia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
