The chair and founder of a homeless charity has said he has received personal threats as well as threats to burn down the premises over the work they have been doing to help asylum seekers without accommodation.
Aubrey McCarthy from Tiglin at the Lighthouse has been helping Irish homeless people for years and says he has never been threatened like this before.
"We've been there for many, many years helping Irish homeless and anybody who comes to our door," he says.
The threats began last Thursday on a particularly busy night for the charity when there were queues down both sides of Pearse Street.
"I think it attracted maybe some wrong attention. So I was notified that there's tweets going out that have threats in them and threats to me personally but also to the Lighthouse, to burn it down and how to throw a molotov cocktail in the window."
He says the Lighthouse building has been there since 1828 offering services to the homeless and a lot of the residents there are Irish homeless people who he felt had also been put under threat.
"So we did a risk assessment. And what we did is we moved the people from the front of the building to the back and you're just thinking, we're all on the same team here. We're just trying to help people that come undone, that are vulnerable, irregardless of their colour, religion or creed."
He says he set up the charity in 2008 after dealing with the impact of addiction on a member of his own family.
"I’ve been doing this for 16 years. We've never had any issue. People know that. We're all on the same team. We're just trying to help those that are vulnerable. So this is new territory. But I have wonderful volunteers, wonderful staff, and I just don't feel it's right to bring them under threat for something that is Government policy."
On the issue of whether his charity should be giving out tents for homeless people, he says his charity is working in conjunction with IPAS and the Department of Integration.
"IPAS have instructed us to work with the vulnerable individuals that come to us," he says, providing they present the relevant blue card that shows they are an International Protection Applicant.
"We are instructed to give them a sleeping bag and give them a tent and then invoice the IPAS. So we're following key instructions. So then it's sort of not helpful then some members, senior members of government say you shouldn't be giving out tents."
He says the charity has been trying to do everything right and tick every box.
"So that's why it's awful to be on the wrong side of that. I know all the agencies are doing their best and it's an unprecedented situation. But I think we need a multi agency response, that we need to be all informed."
He says the issue has been reported to gardaí at Pearse Street station who set up a meeting.
"I did a full statement. And usually you know it's water off a duck's back type of thing, but they're fairly sinister. And when you say burn it down and we're creating a destination for our enemies. I just think no."
He says last night there was karaoke in the Lighthouse.
"We had the Irish, the English, non-Europeans and we had hot food, with a barber. We create an atmosphere that tackles homelessness with dignity. So we're not against anybody. We're not for anybody. We just help the most vulnerable."
More barriers placed along Dublin's Grand Canal
More barriers have been put in place along the Grand Canal in Dublin, after barriers were installed along other parts of the canal yesterday in an effort to prevent more tents being pitched.
The latest barriers are close to Baggot Street bridge, where the ground along the canal is sloped, which would make it difficult to pitch a tent.
A line of 33 tents are pitched this morning along an area further up the canal, where groups of homeless migrants slept overnight.
Volunteers say it was relatively quiet overnight.
Many of the men are still waiting to hear from the International Protection Accommodation Services, which has been struggling to deal with the number of new arrivals here in recent weeks.
Meanwhile, everyone seeking asylum here will be offered accommodation in the next number of months, Integration Minister Roderic O'Gorman has promised.
However, he said that in the short-term more spaces are needed to provide emergency shelter for asylum seekers.
Until this is found there is a risk that people seeking refuge here will continue to sleep rough, he warned.
Speaking on the Anton Savage Show on Newstalk he said using State land is a key part of the plan to have safe locations for international protection applicants.
The moving of people from Mouth Street and the Grand Canal was possible because "new accommodation was brought online," he said.
"We are doing everything in our power to bring on additional accommodation," he added.
The minister defended the work of State-funded charity organisations who provide tents to asylum seekers which are later removed in multi-agency operations.
"We don’t want to leave people entirely destitute," he said.
