Man arrested after arson attack

A MAN in his late teens has been arrested by gardaí investigating an arson attack in Co Cork which caused up to €700,000 worth of damage.

A senior Garda spokesman confirmed that the man was arrested early yesterday morning and taken to Midleton Garda Station for questioning. He was being detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act (1994). Under this legislation he could be held for up to 24 hours.

Detectives were questioning the man about a fire in Whitegate village, which caused extensive damage to three properties. Gardaí arrested the man after forensic experts confirmed that the fire had been started deliberately.

The fire started shortly after 11pm last Monday and, while fire brigade units from Midleton were quickly on the scene, they couldn’t prevent one of the buildings being completely gutted. The fire is believed to have started in that building, which is situated next to Day’s supermarket.

A senior Garda said the man had been detained after gardaí “received information.”