Suspicious blaze destroys Skibbereen restaurant

Gardaí in Co Cork are investigating a suspected arson attack which gutted a restaurant located in an historic building in Skibbereen last night.

The blaze broke out at around 7pm at The Church restaurant, which is located in a former Methodist church.

The fire completely gutted the restaurant and also damaged some neighbouring buildings, but nobody was injured as no customers or staff were inside at the time.

A foreign national in his 20s was arrested close to the scene of the blaze, but gardaí have declined to say whether the arrest was linked to the fire.

A technical examination is due to get underway this morning to determine whether the incident was an arson attack.