A local Councillor says there are no plans to house refugees in a disused building in Stranorlar.
Cllr Patrick McGowan has spoken out, after unfounded rumours spread online that the former Kernans supermarket building in the middle of Stranorlar town was to be used to house 100 migrants.
“These rumours are not true, I have been contacted by several people who have heard the rumour because they were concerned.”
“The owners of the building have given me a 100% guarantee that this is not true, and that using the building has not ever been considered.”
Cllr McGowan also confirmed to DonegalDaily that the owners of the building are incredibly concerned due to the nature of the online rumours surrounding the site – after several locations rumoured to be sites for refugee accomodation have been set alight in recent weeks and months nationwide.
“The owners have other plans for the building in the works, this was never even considered. There was no contract (to house refugees) ever offered to the owners of the building.”
Cllr McGowan also said in the last 12 months, similar rumours have been spread regarding sites in Castlefinn as well as Convoy, which he also said were “categorically false.”
The activities of far-right protestors have been widely criticised in recent weeks, after riots in Dublin as well as numerous attacks across the country on sites containing alleged housing for refugees.