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Gardaí hunt arsonists
18.08.11
by Damian Dowds, Inishowen Independent
GARDAÍ are investigating a spate of arson attacks
across Inishowen which has seen five separate fires
in just seven days.
Buncrana fire chief James McKenna and Garda
Superintendent Kevin English separately said that
they’re concerned about the danger posed by these
attacks to the public.
“I’m concerned of the danger not just for our
personnel but also for the general public. If this
continues, there’s a real danger that someone will
be injured or killed,” Mr McKenna said.
Superintendent English said: “I’m concerned that
lives will be endangered if these attacks continue.”
Mr McKenna revealed that between Tuesday 9 August
and Monday 15 August fire fighters had to deal with
FIVE apparently malicious fires. |
“It is incredibly rare,
not just in Buncrana but anywhere else in the
country, to have so many, what would appear to be,
malicious fires in such a short period.
“I’m deeply concerned by the current spate of
fires.”
St Oran’s National School in Cockhill was targeted
last Monday week, while a dog was killed and
thousands of euro worth of farm equipment destroyed,
in a farm-shed fire on Inch Island last Tuesday
week. |
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Superintendent Kevin English. |
An unoccupied house was
torched in Monreagh, Burnfoot, in the early hours of
Friday 12 August, while on Monday night a caravan in
Cockhill and an unoccupied house in Aghilly,
Buncrana, were also burned in separate incidents.
Superintendent English appealed to the public to be
extra vigilant and to immediately report any
suspicious activities to the Garda.
While the suspicion is that either an individual or
a small group of people are responsible for this
series of fires, Supt English said Gardaí are
keeping an open mind on the identity of the
perpetrators.
“The targets range from a school to a farm shed and
unoccupied dwellings, and have occurred between 11pm
and 4am. There are no apparent set targets, but I
would appeal for the public to be vigilant and
contact us with any information they have.”
He added that he was concerned that fire officers
dealing with these fires could be delayed in
responding to other emergencies.
Inishowen was hit by widespread gorse and forest
fires in April, many of them also started
maliciously, while at least three other unoccupied
properties – on Inch Island, at Ludden and at the
Black Farm – have been torched over the summer
months.
Local TD Pádraig Mac Lochlainn appealed for anyone
with any information on who is responsible to
contact the Garda.
“I have taken several calls from concerned members
of the public and I would appeal to anyone with
information about these attacks to contact the Garda.
“These are senseless acts and are nothing short of
wanton vandalism and the action of these idiots
could result in loss of life.
“Somebody out there must have information and they
should contact the gardaí, no matter how
insignificant they think that information is.”
MacLochlainn praised the response from the local
Fire Service and Garda to these fires. Anyone with
information on these incidents is asked to contact
Buncrana Garda Station on 07493 20540. |
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