GARDAÍ ARE investigating a fire at a former psychiatric hospital in Cork city, which they are treating as suspicious.
The blaze, which broke out at the former Our Lady’s Hospital on Lee Road, Shanakiel, caused extensive damage to an unoccupied wing of the complex.
Gardaí at Gurranebraher Garda station are conducting the investigation.
Five units of the Cork city fire service, including three water tenders, responded to an emergency call shortly at 10.20pm on Wednesday night and battled for some time to bring the fire under control.
Up to 30 fire-brigade personnel attended the scene and the fire was extinguished at the 18th-century building in a number of hours.
A three-storey section of the historic building was destroyed in the blaze. The roof collapsed and there was a partial collapse of a gable wall.
Firefighters remained at the scene throughout the night and until midday yesterday to make sure all elements of the fire were extinguished.
Fire officer with Cork City Council fire service Noel Rawley said dealing with fires in old buildings could be difficult as they could take hold before they were noticed.
Det Insp Michael Fitzpatrick of Gurranebraher Garda station said there had been people drinking in the area from time to time.
The scene was yesterday being preserved by gardaí pending a technical examination of the scene by the crime unit at Anglesea Street Garda station in Cork city.
Part of the former hospital has been renovated into an apartment development called Atkins Hall.
The unoccupied wing is also believed to have been earmarked for renovation work. The building dates back to 1789 when Cork District Asylum opened.