Gardaí investigate two suspected arson attacks in Cork

GARDAÍ are investigating two suspected arson attacks which occurred yesterday morning in Cork.

Firelighters and papers were burnt outside a house at Bride Valley View at 1.35am. The occupants of the house got out without injury, but some damage was caused to the front door.

The area was sealed off as gardaí carried out a technical examination.

Gardaí in Gurranabraher are appealing for anybody who saw anything suspicious to contact them.

Superintendent Con Cadogan said gardaí were trying to identify a motive for the attack. However, they haven’t ruled out the possibility it could have been linked to Halloween.

Meanwhile, gardaí are also investigating an arson attack on an unoccupied house in the Blarney area.

The blaze at Shalom House, Ardamadan, was noticed at 12.30am.

“We are treating that incident as suspicious,” Supt Cadogan said.

Gardaí don’t believe the two incidents are connected, or that they are linked to a petrol bomb attack on a house in Cathedral Road a week ago.

Supt Cadogan said that Halloween night had been a lot quieter in his garda district than previous years.

Gardaí said there was a noticeable decrease in the amount of fireworks.

Supt Cadogan said one of the possible reasons for the decrease could be the seizure of fireworks gardaí made on the northside of the city last week.

He added, however, that there had been a number of reports of youths egging houses and cars in the Blarney and Ballincollig areas.

Gardaí are, meanwhile, continuing their investigation into the October 24 arson attack at Cathedral Road, which resulted in a mother and daughter being taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation

* Gurranabraher Garda Station at 021 4946200.