The Labour Party has suggested that 20 "protestors" expressing "anti-immigrant sentiment" gatecrashed its public meeting in Louth.
The party expressed concerns that the country is at a "dangerous crossroads" and protests against refugees could lead to "someone getting seriously, seriously injured and possibly worse."
Party leader Ivana Bacik expressed concerns about a number of "disturbing incidents" involving refugees in recent weeks.
This includes an alleged attack on a migrant camp in Ashtown, west Dublin, and protests outside a number of places accommodating asylum and International Protection Seekers.
A garda investigation was launched after a building on Sherrard Street in Dublin 1 was set on fire on Monday evening. It has been suggested that the vacant building was going to accommodate asylum seekers.
Speaking in Leinster House on Tuesday morning, Ms Bacik suggested that a group had targeted a Labour Party town hall held at the D Hotel in Drogheda the previous evening.
She said: "It came as a surprise to us. Our public meeting had been well advertised. We've been doing a series of town hall meetings around the country and this was the latest of these.
"There had never been an issue prior to last night's meeting because the town hall meetings are for us to hear the views of other communities about any issues that matter to them.
"We were informed by the manager of the hotel two hours before the meeting was due to start that he had been told that there was a protest being organised at the hotel. Obviously, he was concerned about it. The guards were called.
"Protestors did arrive, they did come into the meeting. [There were] probably about 20 of them in a meeting of about 80 people.
"They attempted to shout down speakers and attempted to disrupt the meeting and eventually left. The guards did come into the room.
"It was anti-refugee sentiment."
Ms Bacik said that when the gardaí entered the room, the group left of their own volition.
The Dublin Bay South TD said that there is "toxicity entering public debate", particularly around migrants and refugees.
She also said that it was "unacceptable" that 89 international protection seekers have been left with nowhere to stay since the Citywest Transit Hub was closed last week.
A garda spokesperson said: "Gardaí were present at a hotel in Drogheda, Co. Louth, yesterday evening, January 30 2023.
"No offences were disclosed."
The party’s justice spokesperson Aodhán Ó Ríordáin said that he had "massive concerns" about the growing anti-refugee sentiment. He noted that while "it may have started with being a fringe group", he is now concerned that it is becoming "mainstream".
He said: "What's happening is extremely dangerous and the rhetoric is absolutely poisonous. "We had a public meeting agenda in Drogheda which was invaded and disrupted.
"This, we feel, is really at a dangerous crossroads.
"I am, we all are, particularly worried about what's going to happen in the next couple of weeks.
"If it continues as is, someone is going to get seriously, seriously injured and possibly worse."
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