During the early hours of Wednesday morning, firefighting units battled a fire that ignited at a former Augustinian establishment on Edmondstown Road in Ballyboden, south Dublin. Gardaí and other emergency services arrived at the vacant Dublin 16 property around 8.20pm on Tuesday evening.
The area surrounding Edmondstown Road was made inaccessible to the public, with alternative routes implemented. Prior to midnight, the Dublin Fire Brigade mentioned their intention to have teams at the location throughout the night, expressing appreciation for the supportive assistance from other organisations, in order to effectively combat the fire.
A revolving ladder served as a water tower in the firefighting efforts, aiding the process from an elevated position. Officials highlighted the intense wind carrying the smoke towards Rathfarnham, and advised local inhabitants to shut their windows and doors as a safety measure.
In an unrelated event, three additional fire engines were sent to another fire at a desolate property close to Ticknock. South Dublin County Council member, Róisín Mannion disclosed on RTÉ Radio One’s Morning Ireland that she had no knowledge about plans to use the Ballyboden location as a hub for international protection applicants, debunking speculation circulating on social media.
She added that the property has been vacant for several years with legal steps being taken about its planning applications and even at present, it is under a judicial assessment. Consequently, she doubted about the property’s potential to serve as a sanctuary for migrants. Highlighting that the property has already experienced several fires, Mannion dismissed such rumours as entirely baseless to her understanding.
The old Georgian structure, which was once a college and a church under the jurisdiction of the Augustinian order, was purchased by private developers in 2019. The site had seen multiple planning proposals, one of which included constructing 400 flats, and was currently being subjected to judicial scrutiny.
Local dwellers have expressed their worries about anti-social behaviour taking place in the area to the police, the site’s proprietors, and council officials. Incidents of recreational fire-setting, particularly during the summer, and vandalistic graffiti have been reported.
The plot, extending across more than nine acres, comprises several constructions, including a Georgian residence, a chapel, a seminary and wooded landscapes.
Moreover, anecdotal evidence of adolescents idly spending time in the disused buildings has emerged in the form of video clips on WhatsApp. Fires being started has been a recurring issue, based on the accounts.