A fire that broke out at a hotel in Galway which was due to be used to house asylum seekers is being treated as a crime by police.

Irish police are investigating after a blaze broke out at Ross Lake House Hotel in Rosscahill, Co Galway, at around 11.35pm on Saturday.

No one was inside the building at the time, and the fire service brought the flames under control.

Gardai are treating the fire as a criminal damage incident and said the scene was set to be examined further on Sunday afternoon.

The hotel has not been in use for several years and had been selected to house 70 asylum seekers in the coming days.

The government’s plan had been heavily criticised by local opposition and protesters had blocked the hotel’s entrance earlier on Saturday.

Police are appealing for anyone who may have information regarding the fire to contact them.

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Figures from the CSO show that in the year leading up to April 2023, the number of immigrants to Ireland was more than 140,000 – a 16-year-high.

According to police, it was anti-immigration protesters who were involved in the huge riot in Dublin city centre last month after a stabbing attack left three young children and their carer were injured.

Police officers were attacked and vehicles were set alight as part of the riot.

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