A cohort of refugees were evicted from Phoenix Park after setting up their temporary dwellings there as a follow-up to a camp evacuation initiative in the heart of Dublin earlier this week. On Friday afternoon, sixteen tents popped up in the park, which later, by 6 pm, were dismantled by representatives from the Office of Public Works (OPW) and local law enforcement officers.
An OPW representative previously clarified that the park was off-limits for camping and night time car parking due to the inherent health and safety hazards and the impending threat to the delicate locations within. The representative also emphasised that, despite the around-the-clock accessibility of the park, the lack of lighting after dark rendered it hazardous. The OPW is liaising with the Simon Community Outreach team, which was involved in aiding the persons affected.
A significant number of the camp residents departed for a daytime meal service some 5km distant, courtesy of the Lighthouse charity on Pearse Street. On Friday, one individual leaving the campsite reported that he had arrived in Dublin that same morning and, following the guidance of local volunteers, constructed his tent in the park.
The makeshift settlement was roughly 6km away from the International Protection Office on Mount Street, which earlier this year was the camping site for refugees. This came to fruition following the actions of the local police on Wednesday who dismantled tents at a location at Charlemont Place in South inner city, which had previously been the sleeping quarters for approximately 60 international protection claimants.
Additional metal fences were put up at the area, supplementing the miles of fences bordering the Grand Canal designed to thwart the setup of tents. Waterways Ireland announced that these impediments will maintain their position till October.
As per the most recent data from International Protection Accommodation Services, the count of homeless male asylum seekers awaiting lodging has ascended to 2,353 from last week’s 2,228.