ARSONISTS were being blamed yesterday for a fire at a transport museum warehouse in Co Dublin which destroyed two historic vehicles and left a third badly damaged.
The fire took place on Monday night at a National Transport Museum warehouse in Howth. It destroyed a 1957 Beadle Rochester coach and a 1983 Shelboke and Drewry refuse collection lorry. A 1961 Leyland Hippo oil tanker was damaged.
The president of the privately run museum, Mr Michael Corcoran, said that while the museum had insurance, it was "impossible to insure these vehicles for their true value, because they're irreplaceable". Gardai said the cost of the damage was about £50,000.
Mr Corcoran said it might be possible to restore the oil tanker but the other two vehicles were beyond repair. The vehicles were among 17 stored at a museum warehouse close to Howth Castle, where museum staff work on exhibits before putting them on display.
Mr Corcoran said there were signs of a break-in but it was unclear whether the fire was deliberate. "We don't know if it was malicious, or dossers," he said.
Garda forensic experts were due at the scene yesterday. Garda sources said the fire appeared to have been started deliberately.
Mr Corcoran said the destroyed, Rochester coach was "unique but Dublin Corporation had suggested it might be able to supply a replacement bin-lorry. He said it was the second such fire at the depot; arsonists had previously set fire to vehicles in February of last year.