Misinformation about refugees is ‘terrifying’ locals, say politicians

North Dublin politicians have said the continued false information being spread about refugees is leaving local residents “terrified”.

Anti-immigration and far-right groups have held several demonstrations outside refugee accommodation centres in recent weeks calling for their removal.

These protests have taken place in areas around the county, including Finglas and Ballymun.

Independent councillor for Ballymun, Noeleen Reilly said the groups are spreading misinformation to disparage refugees.

“On a daily basis now I’m having to respond to residents regarding stories they are seeing on social media,” she says.

“This is a deliberate attempt to put fear into people and demonise refugees.

“For example, this week people put it about that 100 beds were seen going into the Poppintree Community Centre for refugees.

“This was completely fabricated but as a result the centre had to close early for safety reasons.

“Children attending Poppintree Youth and the boxing club had their evening cancelled.

“People say they are concerned for children but were was there concern these children.”

Reilly says Dublin City Council was “forced to issue a statement” due to concerns that the centre would be targeted by anti-immigrant groups.

“Decent people are getting caught up in these lies and they are so frustrated with it all as they don’t know what’s true and what’s not.

“The social media companies have been left lacking again.

“They are allowing all sorts of allegations and hate crimes being shared on their forums with little regard to how it is affecting communities and people who just want to go about their daily lives.”

Ballymun-native and Fine Gael Senator Regina Doherty said a national public information campaign “to counter heightened levels of disinformation” is urgently needed.

“Since last month, more than 3,000 Ukrainian citizens have fled the ongoing Russian invasion of their country and sought refuge in Ireland,” she said.

“Ireland has displayed solidarity throughout this crisis, and throughout this unprecedented event, communities right across the country have welcomed refugees with open arms.

“Furthermore, we continue to provide asylum to those from other countries seeking international protection.

“However, in recent weeks, heightened levels of disinformation surrounding refugees – predominantly shared through social media platforms – have given rise to a spike in anti-refugee protests,” she said.

“Ordinary communities are being quite literally preyed upon by far-right elements, who have used this crisis to further their own agendas.”

Senator Doherty also said that social media platforms need to do more to tackle the spread of misinformation on their platforms.

“Faux reports shared in WhatsApp groups, and forwarded to others, vilify male asylum seekers, with the inference that they somehow pose a danger to us,” she said.

“Videos being posted to TikTok make unfounded claims of ‘prostitution rings’ operating from refugee accommodation centres.

“There is a narrative that refugees are being prioritised on Ireland’s social housing lists when, in reality, there has been zero cases of this.

“Spreading lies is one thing, but we should all be genuinely frightened by the kind of rhetoric that has been reported at these protests.

“A speaker at one demonstration who encouraged protesters to ‘burn out’ refugees, ‘in the name of our culture’, encapsulates the sentiment.

“Other demonstrations have targeted refugees in their accommodations, their homes.

“We’ve seen videos of terrified children watching all of this unfold through their windows.”

Senator Doherty says she is calling on Minister Roderic O’Gorman and Minister Joe O’Brien to “to initiate a comprehensive, nationwide, public information campaign to assure communities of the reality of government policy, and to take down the agenda-driven hatred that has entered our political discourse.”