Gardaí were last night searching for a man they want to question about a fire that destroyed a Limerick timber factory that had been in business for more than 30 years.
The blaze, which gardaí are treating as suspicious, broke out shortly before 8am at the Woodworkers Store on the north side of the city.
The owner of the building, Patrick Moloney, said he believed the fire was started maliciously.
“We’ve had incidents here for the past two weeks so all I can do is wait and see what the gardaí say to me,” Mr Moloney said.
Joe and Kitty Collins have run the Woodworkers Store business for the past 32 years and have been tenants in the building for the past 20 years.
A visibly upset Mr Collins (68) said: “You work all your life doing something and then this happens. I’m devastated. My main worry is that we will have to relocate out of the area that we have been in for the past 20 years.”
The store has supplied oak, teak, mahogany and most other types of wood to DIY enthusiasts, carpenters and schools in the Limerick area.
The business also supplies fitted kitchens and bedroom furniture and displays stock from its own showrooms.
There was no damage to an adjacent school and houses, and no one was injured.
Anyone with information can contact Mayorstone Garda station on 061-456980.