Charity helping Irish, English, non-Europeans threatened to be burned

Source: Irish Sun

DUBLIN, Ireland - The chair and founder of a homeless charity stated he had received personal threats as well as threats to burn down the building for the work they have been doing to assist asylum seekers without housing.

Aubrey McCarthy of Tiglin at the Lighthouse has been helping Irish homeless people for years and claims he has never been threatened like this before.

"We've been there for many years helping the Irish homeless and anybody who comes to our door," he said.

The threats came last Thursday, during a particularly busy night for the organization, when queues stretched along both sides of Pearse Street.

"I believe it attracted some unwanted attention. So I was alerted that tweets were being sent out that contained threats, both to me personally and the Lighthouse, to burn it down and toss a Molotov cocktail through the window.

He claims that the Lighthouse building has been providing services to the homeless since 1828 and that many of the occupants are Irish homeless people, who he believes have also been threatened.

He says he founded this charity in 2008 after dealing with the effects of addiction on a member of his own family.

"I've been doing this for sixteen years. We have never had an issue. People know this. We are all on the same team. We're only trying to help vulnerable people. So, this is uncharted territory. But I have fantastic volunteers and staff, and I don't think it's right to put them at risk for something that is government policy."

He reported the situation to garda at Pearse Street station.

"We had Irish, English, non-Europeans. We had hot meals and a barber. We foster a culture that addresses homelessness with dignity. So, we're not against anyone. We are not for anybody. "We only help the most vulnerable."