Youths behind €400k arson attack

GARDAÍ believe a gang of youths may have been responsible for a €400,000 arson attack which gutted two near-completed houses in an estate in west Waterford.

Firebrigades rushed to the scene in Lismore just before 1.30am on Saturday to find what a garda spokesman described as “an inferno”.

Supt Tom O’Grady, who is leading the investigation, said the fire began at the Mills estate, a short distance from the Catholic Church and affected about 10 out of 60 houses.

Supt O’Grady said gardaí are treating the fire as suspicious. The two three-bed, semi-detached houses were so badly damaged they had to be demolished, he said.

“We are aware that, in recent weeks, these houses were a magnet for youths who were engaged in anti-social behaviour,” he said.

Anybody with information is asked to contact Lismore Garda station at 058 72030 or Dungarvan Garda station at 058 48600.