GARDAÍ IN Co Clare were last night questioning one man and hunting up to two others after an arson attack that destroyed a car and extensively damaged a home.
A 19-year-old man was arrested early yesterday, while two others were still being sought. The man was being questioned at Ennis Garda station last night. It is believed the men planned to burgle the property, but set the house and the car alight before leaving the scene.
The alarm was raised shortly before midnight on Wednesday when the fire service received a call about a car on fire outside a house at St Anne’s Terrace, Clonroad in Ennis. On arrival, fire crews discovered the house was also ablaze.
Smoke from the burning house had spread through a shared attic space to five other homes in the block. The residents of four of the homes, including some elderly people, were evacuated, while one other house was unoccupied.
Six units of the Clare County Fire and Rescue service from Ennis and Shannon attended the scene. Ambulance crews were also sent to the scene.