There is "no evidence" the Government is serious about tackling disinformation by the far-right, the Irish Network Against Racism (INAR) has said. 

In recent weeks, there have been a number of arson attacks on accommodation earmarked or thought to be earmarked for asylum seekers. 

INAR Director Shane O’Curry said this is the result of the Irish far-right “importing US and British tactics” where they whip up fear and misinformation about housing designated for migrants. 

“This is a phenomenon that’s been going on for some five years now and in those five years, we have seen something like 20 serious arson attacks or… attempted arson attacks and it appears as though nothing has been done about it,” he told Newstalk Breakfast. 

“I’m not aware of any arrests in relation to those arson attacks. 

“In that period, we have been making representations to Gardaí along with our colleagues in LGBTQI organisations, migrant rights organisations and in the trade union movement, expressing alarm and concern that workers, ordinary members of the public… are being the targets of hate and misinformation.” 

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has promised that anyone responsible for deliberately burning down a pub in Ringsend, Dublin that would have housed the homeless “will be brought to justice”. 

The Shipwright Pub in Ringsend, Co Dublin, following a deliberate fire, 01/01/2024. Image: Leah Farrell/© RollingNews.ie

Mr O’Curry said it was “very heartening to hear” a Garda investigation has been launched but expressed scepticism that anyone would be convicted. 

“Unfortunately, for most of the last five years, we haven’t seen any results about that,” he said. 

“Following the disturbances and protests in November 2022, our members, people from ethnic minority backgrounds… have all been expressing heightened levels of fear and concern… because of the hostility that has been unleashed by this far-right activism.” 

Threat to society

Mr O’Curry described far-right disinformation as a “serious threat to the social fabric” in Ireland and the Government needs to be more proactive when it comes to tackling it. 

“I haven’t seen evidence of any kind of strategy for tackling the far-right,” he said. 

“For tackling hate and misinformation.”

Mr O’Curry said the far-right may only number a handful of people but they are “extremely well-resourced” and the result is a “climate of fear” in many communities. 

In a statement to Newstalk, the Department of Justice said combating extremism is a "priority for An Garda Síochána and for Minister McEntee". 

"We are fully engaged with EU partners through the Radicalisation Awareness Network (RAN)," a spokesperson said.

"This is to develop our understanding of the evolution of the threat posed by extremist actors to take appropriate measures to counter such threat.

"The Department is also responsible for policy in relation to illegal online content, including the implementation of the Terrorist Content Online Regulation, and policy on online extremism."

He also said An Garda Síochána continues to monitor social media "to counter disinformation and misinformation".

Main image: Far right riot in Dublin. Picture by: RollingNews.ie