Gardaí probe suspected arson attacks

SEPARATE Garda investigations are continuing into suspected arson attacks on houses in Kerry and Clare.

One of the properties, near Dingle, was partly damaged by fire just two weeks ago.

Gardaí have strongly indicated they are treating both fires as suspicious.

Fire destroyed the dwelling house at Baile an Lochaigh, about 10km west of Dingle early yesterday.

The house, where a fire occurred two weeks ago, is mostly unoccupied. The owner is reported locally to be in the US.

Three units of Tralee Fire Brigade and one unit from the Dingle brigade were called to the scene at around 5.30am but the fire swept quickly through the house, which was completely gutted.

Only the shell of the three-storey residence was left standing. The previous fire was confined to the upstairs section of the house.

Dingle Gardaí, who were quickly at the scene, sealed off the gutted building as investigations got under way.

A Garda spokesman said they had not yet established the cause of the fire. However, forensic experts will carry out a detailed examination of the house today.

Graffiti and threatening slogans were scrawled on the wall at the rear of the house.

Meanwhile, Gardaí in Clare appealed for witnesses to an arson attack on a house in Ennis during which the occupants of a neighbouring home had to be evacuated.

They are treating Sunday evening’s fire as suspicious and have appealed to anyone in the area at the time of the incident to come forward with information.

The alarm was raised at around 7.10pm when a fire was reported at the unoccupied house at Waterpark View in Ennis. Three units of the fire brigade and gardaí reached the scene to find the bottom floor of the end-of-terrace house ablaze.

The house reportedly targeted was purchased from Ennis Town Council in 2003 but, according to the local authority, “no one has been living in the house for some time”.

It is believed that the family has been living in Co Offaly in recent weeks and had been trying to sell the house back to the local authority.

The former occupants had been involved in a nasty dispute some time ago with other family members.

A Garda spokesman said: “The circumstances of this fire are being treated as suspicious. We would appeal to witnesses to contact us.”

Gardaí at Ennis can be contacted at 065-6848100.