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IrelandCulture12 days ago

‘Irish only or it burns’ – the rise in racist attacks on Dublin council houses

Dublin City Council has reported an increase in racist attacks targeting vacant council houses over the past 18 months. These incidents occur shortly before new tenants move in and include racist graffiti and acts of criminal damage intended to make the homes uninhabitable. The Irish Times' crime and security editor, Conor Lally, discusses the reasons behind the rise in such attacks and the responses from affected communities.

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Conor Lally was speaking to Bernice Harrison as part of the In the News podcast. Tue Jun 09 2026 - 07:00

For the past 18 months, Dublin City Council has been keeping track of a worrying trend: an increase in the number of vacant council houses being targeted in racist attacks .

The criminal damage, which happens just before the council moves a new tenant in, ranges from racist graffiti to making the house uninhabitable.

So where is this happening? And what can be done to stop it?

Irish Times crime and security editor Conor Lally explains what’s behind the recent surge in these attacks, and the reaction from local communities.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.

Bernice Harrison

Bernice Harrison is an Irish Times journalist and cohost of In the News podcast

Read the full article at The Irish Times →
Source document: Dublin City Council

1 reports

The Irish TimesIndependent🔒Center12 days ago
‘Irish only or it burns’ – the rise in racist attacks on Dublin council houses

Dublin City Council has reported an increase in racist attacks targeting vacant council houses over the past 18 months. These incidents occur shortly before new tenants move in and include racist graffiti and acts of criminal damage intended to make the homes uninhabitable. The Irish Times' crime and security editor, Conor Lally, discusses the reasons behind the rise in such attacks and the responses from affected communities.

Bias read (Center): The article presents a factual account of the issue without overtly favoring any particular side. It reports on the increase in racist attacks against council housing but does not use loaded language or selectively present information to support a specific viewpoint. The discussion includes input on

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  • government Dublin City Council

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  • governmentDublin City Council