‘You wouldn’t see it on Love/Hate or Kin’ – Fianna Fáil councillors hit out at garda raids on homes after Galway fire

An internal Fianna Fáil rules ­committee will examine new comments made by councillors in Galway after homes were searched by gardaí investigating a fire at accommodation designated for migrants.

Gardaí searched the home of Fianna Fáil councillor Noel Thomas, as well as the home of somebody known to Fianna Fáil councillor Séamus Walsh yesterday morning.

Mr Walsh said he will not cooperate with gardaí.

It has been reported he was questioned by them twice and both times gave lengthy statements which he refused to sign.

He said to do so would have been a “betrayal” of local people.

“You wouldn’t see it on Love/Hate or Kin,” he said, commenting on the search of the home of someone whom he knows.

“I will never, while there is breath in me, cooperate with the guards on anything.”

Mr Thomas, meanwhile, called the raid of his home “a joke”.

“There was a lad from Dublin leading it and then five or six local guards. Imagine what it’s like having these lads come in rooting in your house?” he said.

“Imagine bringing down the serious crime units from Dublin – is there not better use of their time?”

In the aftermath of the suspected arson attack on Ross Lake House Hotel in Galway, the two councillors made comments which sparked a backlash.

The property, in a remote area, was due to house 70 asylum-seekers.

After the fire, the two politicians ­criticised the Government’s immigration policies.

In the week leading up to Christmas, Mr Thomas said “the inn is full” when it comes to housing migrants, while Mr Walsh said it was the Government’s own policies which are responsible for the “criminal act”.

Tánaiste and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin deemed the comments as “completely unacceptable” and said he would speak to both councillors. “I do not agree with what those councillors have said. I take strong issue with the nuance and the implications of what they’ve said,” he said at the time.

The comments were referred to Fianna Fáil’s internal rules and procedures committee, which decides on sanctions such as losing the whip or, in extreme cases, being removed from the party.

However, these latest comments by the two councillors will now also be considered by the rules committee.

In a statement to the Irish Independent, a spokesperson for Fianna Fáil said every citizen has an “obligation” to cooperate with garda investigations.

“Gardaí are the people responsible for keeping our communities safe,” said the spokesperson.

“They should be respected and supported and every citizen has an obligation to cooperate with garda investigations, particularly public representatives, who should be providing leadership.

“The party’s rules and procedures committee are already considering statements made publicly by elected representatives and will now also consider comments made in the past 24 hours.

“We will not comment any further on our internal process or on a matter being investigated by An Garda Síochána.”

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