Shocked & horrified

Taoiseach says not enough gardai to deal with hatred. Sleeping bags and belongings of refugees torched

- LOUISE BURNE Political Correspondent and SEAN MURPHY

TAOISEACH Leo Varadkar said he does not believe there are enough gardai on the streets to deal with protests aimed at asylum seekers.

He made the comments after a makeshift campsite at Sandwith Street in central Dublin was set alight on Friday evening.

The sleeping bags, beds and belongings of international protection seekers who have been unable to secure accommodation were badly damaged during the blaze.

Footage on social media showed the camp in flames after wooden pallets were set on fire at the camp.

Mr Varadkar said he was "shocked and horrified" by the scenes. He added: "Whatever people's views are about immigration or asylum seekers or anything like that, these are human beings.

"No human being should be treated in the way that people were treated with those protests and the fires the other night. I condemn it unreservedly."

Mr Varadkar said Garda Commissioner Drew Harris, left, is involved in the investigation into the incident so his officers can "find who's responsible and make sure they're brought to justice so they can't harm anybody else".

When asked if he believed there were enough gardai on the streets of Dublin to tackle future similar incidents, Mr. Varadkar replied he did not believe there were sufficient numbers.