It wasn't their intention to house immigrant opportunists, but they felt that it's the moral obligation of Ireland to accommodate these people.

Sympathy evaporated.

Following an unexpected change in his health in November, Allen and I made the difficult decision to return to the United States for a medical treatment not currently available in Ireland. Once this decision had been made, we put our property on the market. In the end, we planned to sign with a company that intended to lease the property for its own purposes.

It was this company — not us — who was negotiating with the government for a contract to provide refugee accommodation.

(...)

One thing should be crystal clear: this was an intentional act of violence directed at us intended to make a statement about the Irish government’s position on immigration.

Note: This is a position Ireland is obliged to hold and is a responsibility all E.U. member nations face, or they will be slapped with heavy fines.

Not knowing much about immigration in Ireland before this incident, and knowing a lot more now, it’s my opinion that it’s Ireland’s moral obligation to find accommodation for these people. At that time, there were hundreds of them living rough or in tents in cold, wet, wintry Ireland.

Irish Central