GARDAÍ ARE treating as suspicious a fire which gutted the parochial house in Dromcollogher, Co Limerick, early yesterday morning.
The two-storey residence was unoccupied at the time of the blaze, as parish priest Canon James Ambrose has not slept there since he was viciously assaulted during a burglary some time ago.
Many of his belongings, however, including a large book collection, are understood to have been destroyed in the fire.
Canon Ambrose was at the scene as firefighters tried to salvage what was left of his belongings but a Garda spokesman said the house had been "practically gutted".
A local baker raised the alarm shortly after 5am. Coincidentally, the fire followed Tuesday night's screening of an RTÉ documentary recalling a horrific fire at Dromcollogher cinema in 1926 in which 48 people perished.
Local councillor Jerome Scanlon said the community was devastated: "It's surreal given that last night RTÉ covered the events of 1926 . . . and here we are this morning with the canon's house destroyed by fire."
Fire units remained at the scene in the afternoon as the blaze continued to smoulder.
"We are treating the fire as suspicious but, because of the condition of the site, we will have to wait until it is declared safe before further technical examinations can take place," explained Supt Jim O'Connor of Newcastle West Garda station.
"We are appealing to anyone who was in the locality over the past few days and who may have seen anything suspicious to contact us."