Gardaí probe botched arson attack on Charleville store

GARDAÍ in Cork are appealing for information about a botched arson attack on a former boutique and a separate raid on a craft shop.

In north Cork, the raid on the craft shop netted the thief a substantial amount of gold jewellery. In West Cork, gold and jewellery worth thousands of euro was stolen from a craft store on the Mizen peninsula.

The attempted arson attack was in Charleville, Co Cork, in what was formerly O’Shea’s boutique.

According to Supt Pat McCarthy, who is leading the Garda investigation, at around 1.30am yesterday the front window of the vacant shop at Main Street was smashed in and a Molotov cocktail was thrown inside. The petrol bomb failed to ignite.

“The scene was preserved for forensic analysis and we are also studying CCTV to see if we can find any clues to who did this,” Supt McCarthy said.

He said gardaí were anxious to hear from people who were in the area and who may have seen anybody acting suspiciously.

“We particularly want to speak to anyone who was around Main Street between midnight and 2am,” the superintendent said.

Anybody with information is asked to contact Charleville Garda Station at 063 21770, or Mallow Garda Station at 022 31450.

Meanwhile, gardaí in West Cork area appealing for information about a separate crime. Sometime between 5.30pm last Sunday and 10.30am last Monday, the rear door of the Escallonia Craft shop was smashed in Crookhaven.

The thief then proceeded to help himself to a large amount of gold and jewellery worth thousands of euro. “The items robbed were all gold. The person didn’t take any other kind of jewellery. They took necklaces, chains, rings and a white gold bracelet,” a Garda spokesman said.

The scene was examined by Garda technical experts who are also looking at CCTV.

“We want to appeal to any businesses specialising in purchasing gold to keep an eye out for such items.

“Also, if anybody is offered them from an unusual source at a knockdown value, we would ask that they contact gardaí,” the spokesman said.

Anybody with information about this crime is asked to contact Bantry Garda Station at 027 20860.