Gardaí are investigating a fire which has destroyed a pub in Co Limerick.
The Worralls Inn, on Main Street, Castleconnell, has been gutted in the blaze, which broke out in the early hours of this morning.
Gardaí are appealing for witnesses and are investigating if the fire was started deliberately.
Limerick City Fire and Rescue crews who had put out the blaze shortly before 7am - have had to return to the scene after gardaí called them back when the fire started up again.
A spokeswoman for Limerick City Fire and Rescue Service said: “We got the first call out at 3.36am and we were home again at 7am. We received a call back from the Gardai after it started up again at 7.42am and we are still in attendance.”
Five water tenders have been dousing the blaze all morning including units from Cappamore and Limerick city.
“We have a hydraulic platform and an appliance water tenders are still in attendance,” added the fire service spokesperson.
A local woman, shocked by the scene this morning, said: “It looks completely gutted. The walks are still standing but the roof is gone and there’s nothing left on the inside.”
The pub had been closed for a number of weeks and was to be sold as a going concern, and would still have provided much needed employment in the rural village.
No one was in the premises at the time.