Donegal county councillor Martin Farren has said the people of Moville are genuinely shocked at the arson attack on the Caiseal Mara Hotel in the early hours of this morning.
Mr Farren, who lives in the town, has been at the centre of discussions since the recent announcement that a Direct Provision Centre was to be set up in the hotel to look after 100 asylum seekers.
Indeed Mr Farren and a number of others were scheduled to hold a meeting at 3pm today to discuss a welcoming party for the displaced people.
That meeting in the local Methodist Hall will still go ahead but the issue of this morning’s attack on the hotel will undoubtedly also be high on the agenda.
Councillor Farren said he wanted to stressed that the vast majority of people in Moville are shocked and appalled by what has transpired in their community in the past number of hours.
“People simply find it hard to believe that something like this would happen in Moville. Like myself, the people of Moville utterly condemn what has happened here.
“We had already arranged to have a meeting today to arrange a welcome party for these people and then this happens,” he said.
Garda forensic officers at the scene of the fire at the Caiseal Mara Hotel in Moville where 100 immigrants are due to arrive to in the next few weeks. (North West Newspix)
“Thankfully there was no loss of life and the fire service have to be commended for their swift action and professionalism as always.
“We could have been dealing with a very different situation here and we hope the person injured in the fire gets well soon,” he added.
Gardaí in Buncrana are investigating all circumstances surrounding the fire that occurred at the hotel on Foyle Street at approx. 4.30am.
Gardaí are appealing for witnesses, anyone with information or anyone that was in the area that may have seen suspicious activity to contact Buncrana Garda Station on (074) 9320540 the Garda Confidential Line or any Garda Station.