Mother and daughter hospitalised after home petrol bombed

GARDAÍ are investigating a petrol bomb attack on a house in Cork city yesterday morning which resulted in a mother and daughter being taken to hospital.

Detectives working on the case believe a hammer was used to break the front livingroom window of the house on Cathedral Road, on the northside of the city, before two molotov cocktails were thrown inside.

A Garda spokesman said the attack took place at around 6.10am and it was perpetrated by at least one male, who may have fled the area on foot.

Three units of the Cork City Fire Brigade were called to the scene and they rescued the only occupants of the house – described as a mother and daughter, in their 40s and 20s respectively.

They were rushed by ambulance to hospital.

It is believed they were suffering from smoke inhalation, but their injuries are not believed to be serious.

Gardaí immediately cordoned off the scene and carried out a full technical examination of the house.

“We believe the window was smashed before two bottles containing petrol were thrown into the living-room,” a Garda spokesman said.

The fire brigade contained the damage and stopped the fire spreading to adjoining properties.

“We believe that one, or possibly two, males were involved in this and that they fled on foot. However, we haven’t ruled out the possibility that they may have had an accomplice waiting nearby for them in a car,” the Garda spokesman said. “We are also looking for a motive for this attack.”

Local city councillor Thomas Gould, who lives nearby, said Cathedral Road was normally a very quiet area. “There are a lot of older people in the community here. Incidents like this are very rare and people are shocked by what has happened.”

Gardaí want to hear from anybody who saw anything suspicious in the Cathedral Road area from 5am to 6.20am yesterday.

Anybody with information is asked to contact Gurranabraher Garda Station at [phone].