Masked gang petrol-bombs Cork family home in Fairhill arson attack

Four to six masked men forced their way into a house in Fairhill, Cork, dousing the hallway in petrol and setting it alight. A man and his three children escaped without serious injury.

Masked gang douses Cork family home in petrol and sets it alight

A gang of between four and six masked men forced their way into a house in Bride Valley View, Fairhill, Cork, at around 10.15pm on Saturday, poured petrol from a jerry can through the hallway and set the building on fire, the Irish Times reports.

A 46-year-old man and his three children — two daughters aged 27 and 10, and a 12-year-old son — managed to flee the burning property. All four escaped without serious injury but were left badly shaken by the ordeal.

Several units of Cork City Fire Brigade arrived quickly and brought the blaze under control. The fire had nonetheless caused severe structural damage, leaving the home uninhabitable.

Gardaí have opened a formal investigation and have taken witness statements from the family and from neighbours who came to their assistance. Investigators believe the gang arrived and departed in two cars, and officers are canvassing Bride Valley View and the surrounding approach roads for CCTV footage that may identify the vehicles and the individuals involved.

Detectives are also checking filling stations across the Cork city area to establish whether any vehicles matching the description of those seen at the scene stopped to fill a jerry can with petrol in the days leading up to the attack.

Garda technical experts conducted a forensic examination of the scene. They also examined a car found burnt out on the estate at approximately 1am on Sunday — an incident investigators believe may be connected to the earlier attack on the house.

Gardaí say they are keeping an open mind on the motive. They have appealed to anyone with information to contact Watercourse Road Garda station in confidence on 021 4558260.

Source: Irish Times