Cottage destroyed by fire was ‘unsafe’

A thatched cottage in north Clare that was destroyed by fire on Thursday night was declared unsafe due to “failing fire safety standards” two years ago.

The property was one of eight in the Abbey West Cottages development in Bellharbour that the then- receivers, Ernst & Young (EY), have since sold.

In December 2014, residents of the five occupied cottages received hand-delivered letters from representatives of EY asking them to vacate the properties.