Gardaí in Athlone are investigating suspected serious criminal damage to a controversial tented refugee centre in Athlone.
The Department of Integration had planned to locate up to 1,000 refugees in tents on a site adjacent to the existing direct provision centre in Lissywollen.
The decision was the source of a major local protest with the site seeing multiple demonstrations over the past number of months.
A High Court challenge brought by Councillor Paul Hogan, backed by his fellow Councillors was heard earlier this month, with the state refusing to contest the challenge leaving the future of the site in limbo.
Up to 200 international protection applicants were located onsite before the legal challenge paused works at Lissywollen.
They were moved off site before Storm Eowyn with heavy winds originally thought to have caused severe damage to the structures.
Gardaí have now confirmed that they are investigating serious criminal damage to the temporary structures at approximately 12pm on Friday the 24th of January as the region was emerging from a Red Weather Alert.
A technical examination by the Divisional Scenes of Crime Unit has since been conducted and Gardaí are appealing for anyone with any information to come forward.
