GARDAÍ have arrested five young males on suspicion of having started 11 malicious fires which caused damage estimated at hundreds of thousands of euro.
The five males, aged between 17 and 24, were arrested on Wednesday and yesterday after the latest arson attack at Hilltown, outside Buncrana, Co Donegal, caused extensive damage to barns and a tractor and caused neighbours to flee their homes.
One elderly lady, who has difficulty walking, had to be assisted from her home by fire crews in case the blaze spread. A young mother whose property adjoins the barns had to take her three terrified children from their home at 3.30am.
Two of those detained were questioned at Buncrana Garda station, and the other three at Letterkenny Garda station.
One of the suspects was detained under section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act for possession of petrol bombs, and the other four under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.
A 17-year-old was released from custody at Buncrana on Wednesday night, but the other four remain in custody.
Supt Kevin English said all five were from the Buncrana area. “Following the number of random fires in the area, we deployed extra resources to assist in the investigation.”
Donegal county councillor John Ryan, who lives at Elaghbeg near Bridgend, where a two-storey house was destroyed by fire on Saturday morning, expressed the hope that gardaí had detained those responsible.
“Everyone is relieved there have been arrests. It was only a matter of time until someone was seriously injured or killed.
“The house beside us was a perfectly habitable home that was empty because the owner was in a home.
“There could have been someone there which would have had disastrous consequences.”
Mr Ryan said one farmer, fearful of continuing attacks, told him he was keeping his legally-held gun beside him at night.
“The attack on the Inch road dispensary was an attack on the whole community – it is a vital piece of infrastructure where locals come to see their doctor, nurse and community welfare officer.
“We know the HSE would not have the money to rebuild this facility,” said Mr Ryan.
“To fire a brick through the window and then a petrol bomb is just despicable.
“When these barbaric thugs set the barn on Inch Island alight last week they knew the family’s little collie dog was in there because it would have been barking – that was despicable.
“That family also lost a 2011-registered tractor and a combine harvester.
“I really hope the gardaí have the culprits and we can all sleep easier at night,” Mr Ryan added.