Five people – four children, including a baby, and an adult – were rescued from the top floor of the building after the blaze broke out on Friday night.
Gardaí confirmed the fire in the IPAS centre was started deliberately. Following the arson attack, 28 people have been left homeless and are now in alternative accommodation.
The mother of two, who is from Ghana, told RTÉ News she is now struggling to sleep due to the trauma after the incident.
She was outside the building waiting for her two children, an eight-year-old and a 12-year-old, to be rescued by the fire service, she said.
“The children could have died,” she told RTÉ News. “How can somebody be so mean?”
The woman, who now lives in a temporary accommodation with her family, said she doesn’t know if her children will go back to school tomorrow.
Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Colm Brophy, said a security review of all IPAS centres will take place shortly in the aftermath of the arson attack in Drogheda.
Speaking to RTÉ Radio One’s This Week, he “utterly condemned the attack” and described it as “truly shocking”.
“It is somebody deliberately choosing to put an accelerant onto a stairway, which would have serious implications for people trying to get out of the building,” he said.
“It’s a truly shocking crime that we’re talking about, and I think we need to see the full rigours of An Garda Síochána deployed in the investigation of this and that serious consequences flow for the perpetrators of such a heinous attack,” he added.
Gardai at the scene of the fire at the IPAS Centre on Georges Street, Drogheda
Today’s News in 90 Seconds – Sunday November 2
He said the security review of all IPAS facilities will be conducted “as speedily as possible”.
“We have to recognise that people are living currently in IPAS centres. We have a duty of care to those people, and we must ensure that that duty of care is upheld.
“I’ve already talked to officials in the department in relation to this. It is something we need to be conscious of. People are there, they’re living their lives.
“In this particular instance, there were women and children just going about their daily life. Their safety must be of utmost concern,” he added.
Gardaí confirmed last night the fire at the IPAS centre was started deliberately by “person or persons unknown”. It comes after the initial reports that the fire was started by the discharge of fireworks.
The scene was preserved overnight for a technical examination as the investigation into the attempted arson is now underway, a Garda spokesperson said.
“This was an extremely dangerous act endangering the lives of the residents, including children, who were in their home at the time,” a Garda spokesperson added.
Emergency services rushed to the scene on George’s Street at around 8.15pm, and the residents of the property were safely evacuated.
Several residents were taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital for medical assessment.
It is understood that officers will examine CCTV footage from the area which is near the town centre.
Gardaí have appointed a Senior Investigating Officer to lead the inquiry from Drogheda Garda Station.
They are appealing for witnesses or anyone with camera footage between 7.30pm and 8.20pm to contact them on 041 9874200, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.
In a statement on Saturday, Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan said alternative accommodation has now been found for those displaced.
“I condemn the criminal attack on a building accommodating people applying for international protection in Drogheda last night,” he said.
“This was a terrifying ordeal for the women and children living there. Alternative accommodation is now being sourced for the residents affected.
“A full Garda investigation into this arson attack is underway. There will be serious consequences for those responsible.”
Taoiseach Micheál Martin also condemned the attack, calling it a “deeply disturbing incident.”
“To put vulnerable families, including young children, at risk is abhorrent and has no place in our society,” he said. “My thoughts are with all those affected by this horrifying experience.”
Mayor of Drogheda, Labour councillor Michelle Hall, said she hopes the perpetrators will be identified soon.
“There’s CCTV on that stretch of road, so hopefully they’ll find those responsible quickly,” she said.
“It’s an awful thing to happen on Halloween night when services are already stretched, and I want to thank gardaí, firefighters and council staff for acting so quickly.”
Labour TD Ged Nash said the outcome could have been catastrophic but for the swift actions of emergency services.
“Small babies were hospitalised overnight. The deaths of children and families were avoided thanks to the response of the Fire Service and Gardaí,” he said.
“If this fire occurred only hours later, we could be dealing with an unspeakable tragedy this morning.”