Sinn Féin TD Martin Kenny has said he will continue to defend asylum seekers and refugees in Ireland.

He was speaking after his car was set on fire outside his home near Ballinamore in County Leitrim yesterday morning.

His family were inside the house at the time and his party leader Mary Lou McDOnald said it appeared to have been a “targeted attack.”

Deputy Kenny has said he also received death threats last week after speaking out in the Dáil against far-right and anti-immigrant hate speech.

"Traumatic"

Speaking to Ocean FM this morning, he said the events of the last few days have been “traumatic” but said he will continue to “try and make a difference for people” despite the attack.

“In fairness, I have been getting huge support from all over the place and I want to thank all the people who are sending me messages and who are out there,” he said.

“There is huge generosity and huge goodwill among our people.

“We have to try and be better than this. From my point of view personally I am prepared and want to be part of that better future.

“I am not going to abandon what I feel is a better Ireland and a different Ireland because I think we have the potential to be a magnificent country.

“Our future is there for us and we all have to come together and whatever differences we have and many of us have different views – we can work all that out.

“But we need to be honest with each other and respectful to each other and sometimes when tension get up people aren’t that way and I think it is unfortunate – and people need to have a hard look at themselves.”

"Open Mindset"

He said he will continue to defend those who do not have a voice in Ireland.

“When I talk to young people, I get great hope, that the young people are different.

“The young people I think will recover this country from this nonsense that is going on in so many parts of it – this thing where being unreasonable and irrational is seen as a virtue almost.

“I think we need the breaks put on that so we can recognise that we have a decent and compassionate country with wonderful people in it.

“With a proud history and history where people have suffered a great deal but have overcome.

“I think we have to be welcome and we have to be open and we have to develop a different mindset.

“That is what this is about. This is a struggle between a closed mindset and an open mindset and I will always stand for the open mindset.”

Deputy Kenny’s car was discovered on fire at his home in Aughavas, near Ballinamore at around 2:30am yesterday morning.

Gardaí are appealing for anyone who notice anything suspicious in the area to contact Gardaí at Mohill on  071-963-1002,the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.