Arson suspected in fire at old people’s home

GARDAÍ suspect an arsonist was responsible for a blaze at an old people’s home last night.

More than 10 elderly residents were evacuated after the fire broke out in a sheltered housing complex in Cork city.

The fire was spotted at about 7.40pm at Prosperity Square, off Barrack Street.

Four units of the Cork City fire brigade, based at Anglesea Street, rushed to the scene.

Fire brigade third officer, Adrian Spillett, said that when they arrived flames were coming from the upper floor.

He said that staff had evacuated most of the residents, but fire crews still had to escort four of them to safety.

“If the staff hadn’t acted so promptly and if the fire alarm hadn’t been working, it could have been very serious,” Mr Spillett said.

A number of Health Service Executive ambulances attended the scene. They ferried the elderly residents to the Mercy Hospital and St Mary’s Orthopaedic hospital at Gurranabraher for what was said to be precautionary reasons.

The building was extensively damaged and it may take several weeks for it to be made habitable again.

Gardaí sealed off the area immediately afterwards.

Senior detectives carried out house to house enquiries in the vicinity, while Garda forensic experts combed the sheltered housing complex looking for clues which could identify who might have started the fire.

A senior Garda spokesman said they were treating the cause of the blaze as suspicious.

The Garda spokesman said they were anxious to speak to anyone who saw or heard anything suspicious in the vicinity from 7 to 8pm.

Anybody with information is asked to contact Anglesea Street Garda Station at 021-4522000.