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.

The building was a former Methodist church but had been completely refurbished in recent years.

Although gardaí were unable to comment officially last night, local reports suggest at least two men had interfered with gas cylinders or a gas pipe near the back of the restaurant around teatime yesterday.

A garda spokesperson said the cause of the fire is likely to be much clearer when a detailed forensic examination is carried out, probably beginning this morning.

However, a middle-aged non-national man was arrested on alleged public order charges in the town centre around the time the alarm was raised yesterday evening. He was still in custody late last night but gardaí could not confirm local reports that there was any connection between his arrest and the fire.

“We would appreciate the public’s support and would like to hear from anyone who saw anything they consider relevant between 6pm and 6.30pm,” a senior garda said last night.

The restaurant is in the centre of Skibbereen, opposite the AIB Bank, and anyone with information can contact gardaí at Skibbereen (028) 23088 or Clonakilty (023) 28111.

There were no customers or staff in the Bridge Street restaurant when the blaze started but it had only recently closed after afternoon business.

The former Methodist church, built around 1833, was converted to a restaurant in 2003 and the business is reported to have been doing very well.

The two local volunteer fire units from Skibbereen were assisted by a unit from Schull but they were unable to save the building.

They managed, however, to prevent the fire from causing similar damage to the Department of Social and Family Affairs building to the rear and an adjoining hardware store, although the upper parts of both premises were affected.