Speaking on the recent Drogheda arson attack, Chief Commissioner Liam Herrick said:
“We need to recognise the seriousness of what is taking place. In the past week we have seen a pre-mediated attempt to murder women and children in Drogheda, which could easily have had a catastrophic outcome. The previous week, we saw extreme violence directed at families living at City West and the Gardaí. These incidents mark an alarming escalation of violence targeted at refugees and people seeking international protection, but they are part of a larger pattern of arson and violence over recent years.
“Migration and international protection are important issues of public policy and public interest, but those who participate in and lead public discourse on these issues must recognise the context of increasing extremist violence in our society. Reasoned discussion and debate is the opposite of what was witnessed at City West and in Drogheda. Political leaders who say they want the former, need to recognise the reality of the latter and the duty of leaders to speak up for those who are must in need of protection.”