Businessman Peter Casey is seeking permission to renovate and extend his planned Ukrainian refugee centre which was badly damaged in an arson attack.
Back in May, he blasted the ‘sick individuals’ who set fire to the premises in Buncrana.
He added a short-time later: “I will repair/rebuild the ‘not for profit’ Ukrainians center in Buncrana that thugs damaged by setting on fire last night and I will make it the best Ukrainian refugee center in Ireland.”
This week, Mr Casey submitted a planning application for permission to renovate and extend the building to include an extra ten apartments. He is also applying for a change of use from office to eight apartments in the original building at Ludden.
The Derry businessman announced in April he was planning to convert it into an apartment complex for Ukrainian refugees. He made the comment after locals objected to initial plans to build a three-story apartment block on the site.
He said the new development would house up to 50 refugees.
This is not the first time a Donegal premises earmarked for people fleeing other countries was subject to a racist attack.
A week after the fire at Mr Casey’s premises, a firework was thrown at the window of a refugee centre on Buncrana’s shorefront.
And, in November, 2018, the Caiseal Mara Hotel in Moville was badly damaged in an arson attack prior to the arrival of asylum seekers.
Tags: