Gardaí question three children after hotel blaze

THREE children have been quizzed by gardaí about the fire which destroyed the disused John Barleycorn Hotel in Riverstown, Glanmire, Co Cork.

Last night, garda sources said the three children, aged eight, nine and 12 years were fortunate to have escaped with their lives.

Investigators suspect the children climbed in through a window of the building and started a slow-burning fire in an upstairs room.

When the fire eventually took hold, the resulting blaze was described as ferocious and the extensive damage caused may necessitate the demolition of the building.

Gardaí said they were not looking for any other suspects in the case.

The blaze took hold just after 3pm on Sunday. Three units of the fire brigade from Ballyvolane and Midleton fought the fire.

Gardaí sealed off roads around the site as teams of firefighters fought to bring the blaze under control.

The fire destroyed the roof and caused extensive damage to the rear of the structure. Last week, the hotel’s function room and bar were extensively damaged in a smaller fire.

The former hotel, which was bought, closed down, and boarded-up by property developer Joe Donovan before the summer, is the subject of a contentious planning application.

He wants to build a discount store, hotel, restaurant and bar on the site.