An unfortunate event on Thursday night at Heywood Road, Clonmel, Co Tipperary – a location marked to accommodate Ukrainian refugees in prefab homes – allegedly saw the assault of security personnel. One of the guards required medical attention in a hospital due to the assault, supposedly by several people. However, it’s believed there were no excessively grave injuries from the incident. The incident was marked by an alleged deliberate damage, evidenced by several vehicles being scorched.
The Garda, as yet, have not apprehended anyone in relation to this occurrence, as confirmed by a Garda representative. They have asked potential witnesses to come forward to aid them in their investigation.
The site on Heywood Road, earlier under the HSE, is under construction for 82 swift-build homes that are to house Ukrainian refugees. It’s anticipated that these accommodations will be completed and ready by the closing of this year. Currently, the Office of Public Works (OPW) is taking over the site.
A representative of OPW acknowledged the unfortunate incident at the site overnight, confirming that OPW is in conversation with both the contractor, Sisk Ltd, regarding the site’s security and An Garda Síochána about public order issues stemming from the site.
In a related incident, a truck convoy transporting 18 modular dwellings was barred from entering a location in Coole, Co Westmeath on Friday morning due to suspicions they were meant to house asylum seekers. Locals began the protest at 4 am after getting insider information that the houses were to be delivered and placed cars in front of the site to block the houses from being assembled. Actions from Garda saw the closure of the road, with patrol cars positioned at each village entrance and alternative routes put in place following the blockade.