Gardaí question man over series of arson attacks on machinery

GARDAÍ have questioned a man in his 30s in relation to a series of arson attacks which are believed to have caused over €1 million worth of damage to heavy machinery.

Large drilling machines belonging to four contractors were targeted in Co Cork in the past two years, one of which was a well driller worth €500,000.

It has emerged a man was questioned in Bandon Garda Station last Friday in relation to a number of incidents. Detectives’ suspicions were apparently aroused after he was allegedly placed near the scene of a machine fire near Drimoleague last February.

Businessman Declan Barry lost the €500,000 hi-tech drilling machine which was specially imported from the USA in an arson attack last July. The machine was doused in petrol and set alight at a site near Mallow.

Mr Barry, who owns Southern Pumps and Southern Drilling, had been working on a contract for Cork County Council when the arson attack occurred. After the incident he said it would cost €570,000 for a replacement machine and a further €20,000 to ship it over from the USA.

In April 2002 one of his machines was damaged in Dunmanway, which cost him €35,000. Another arson attack cost him in the region of €7,000.

A garda spokesman said the man was questioned for several hours at Bandon Garda Station. “He was released without charge and a file is now being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.”