Youths arrested over firebomb at politician’s home

TWO youths were being questioned by gardaí last night in connection with a firebombing on a politician’s home — the third attack on his house in 18 months.

A senior garda spokesman said that Cllr Chris O’Leary, his wife, Angela, and their 12-year-old daughter, Orla, were lucky to escape following the arson attack at their home in Mahon, Cork, at around 3am yesterday.

Despite the latest attack, the outspoken Green Party councillor has vowed not to give in to intimidation.

It is believed a petrol bomb was thrown at the front door of his home as he and his family slept upstairs. The O’Learys were trapped inside by the blaze and had to escape out the back of the house.

But the family, who were shocked and shaken by the incident and treated in hospital for smoke inhalation, said they would not leave their Loughmahon estate.

“Much as people would like me to be gone, I’m not going,” Mr O’Leary said. “This has been my home for 25 years. I’m adamant that I’m not going to be forced out.

“There is a price to pay and I’m concerned about that, but this is where I live. I’ll choose when I go if I choose to go. But this is a fantastic place to live. I love where I live, regardless of what some people do,” the councillor said.

Mr O’Leary has consistently spoken out publicly about anti-social and criminal behaviour, both in Mahon, and on the northside of the city where he works as a community worker.

Bricks have been thrown through the windows of his home and car in previous attacks. A man was charged in connection with the last attack and served six months in prison.

The porch at the front of the terraced home was completely gutted in the attack. The front door melted and fire scorched the front of the house, melting a portion of the fascia on the roof.

Mr O’Leary was asleep in a bedroom just above the porch when he was disturbed by a noise outside at around 3am.

“I went downstairs to investigate and saw the porch and hall filling with thick acrid smoke,” he said. “I ran back upstairs to wake Angela and Orla. We all came back downstairs but couldn’t get out through the front door. We were beaten back by the smoke,” he said.

Neighbours rushed to their assistance and threw soil from flower pots against the door in a desperate attempt to out the flames. Mr O’Leary and his family ran out the back door and dialled 999.

Fire crews were on the scene within minutes and outed the fire before it managed to take hold.

The family were taken by ambulance to Cork University Hospital where they were treated for smoke inhalation. They were all back at the family home by yesterday morning.

Superintendent Mick Finn said that two youths, believed to be around 17 years old, were arrested by gardaí and were being detained under Section Four of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at the Bridewell garda station.

He said the consequences of the arson attack could have been very serious.

“People could have lost their lives if there wasn’t a double door at the front. It stopped the fire long enough so they could get out of the house,” Supt Finn said.