Gardaí investigate cause of fire at restaurant

GARDAÍ are investigating the possibility that a fire which has put a thriving west Cork restaurant business in jeopardy may have been started maliciously.

Fire fighters spent a number of hours last night battling the blaze which appears to have started at The Church restaurant in the middle of Skibbereen.

They are understood to have prevented the fire gutting neighbouring premises, including the local social welfare office, but witnesses reported that the interior of the restaurant building was destroyed.