Petrol bomb attack on Dublin 8 home leaves family of seven hospitalised
A grandmother, children and an infant were hospitalised after a petrol bomb attack on a home in Clanbrassil Close, Dublin 8, at around 2:30am on Tuesday.
Family of seven escape petrol bomb attack on Dublin 8 home
A family of seven — including a grandmother, young children and an infant only a few months old — narrowly escaped with their lives after a petrol bomb attack on their home in Clanbrassil Close, Dublin 8, shortly before 2:30am on Tuesday, 3 November 2026, Dublin Live reports.
Dublin Fire Brigade reached the scene within six minutes of the emergency call and rescued an adult woman and three children, bringing them out through the front door of a property already heavily engulfed in flames. Three other family members — another woman and two males — managed to escape by jumping from a back window. The woman who jumped sustained serious injuries and was taken to hospital for surgery.
All seven family members were hospitalised and treated for smoke inhalation. Gardaí described their injuries as believed to be non-life threatening.
Sources indicate that a local man with a suspected drug debt was the intended target of the attack. It is understood he had been involved in an ongoing dispute with criminals in the area. The innocent family were caught in the attack as a result.
By Tuesday morning the extent of the damage to the property was clearly visible: the roof had caved in and the front of the house was covered in ash.
Local Labour Party councillor Darragh Moriarty described the outcome as a "miracle" and paid tribute to the response of neighbours and emergency services. "It's horrific. I think it's a family of seven, a multi-generational family in terms of a grandmother, her children, grandchildren, a baby only a couple of months old. It's a minor miracle that thankfully we haven't had any fatalities," he said.
Moriarty noted that the close-knit estate of around 22 houses responded immediately. "I know the community in there and I think it's only about 22 houses and it's a tight-knit community where everyone knows everyone. I have to commend the bravery of the neighbours and the residents who not without a second thought came out of their own houses to see if they could help. There are reports of neighbours climbing over the back wall to try and help them out the back way as well."
He also praised the speed of the emergency services. "Huge credit also to emergency services as well because they were there very quickly in about six minutes."
Condemning the attack as "completely barbaric," Moriarty said he hoped those responsible would face justice. "The whole house is just destroyed. In this instance there are knock-on implications too for the surrounding neighbouring properties. The destruction goes beyond the immediate family. Gardaí are reviewing the CCTV now and hopefully those responsible are brought to justice because this type of criminality should not go unpunished."
In a statement, Gardaí confirmed they are "investigating an incident of criminal damage by fire at a residential premises in Clanbrassil Close, Dublin 8, in the early hours of this morning, Tuesday 3rd November 2026. The incident occurred at approximately 2:30am. The fire was extinguished by Dublin Fire Brigade. Five adults and two children were taken from the scene to hospital to be treated for injuries believed to be non-life threatening. Enquiries are ongoing."
Source: Dublin Live