Garda probe after house is gutted by fire
A HOUSE has been gutted by a fire in Balbriggan, north Co. Dublin.
Large plumes of smoke could be seen over the town as four fire engines and several ambulances rushed to the scene.
The fire appeared to start at the front of the house and spread backwards with the prevailing winds. It happened in the Chapel Grove estate on Sunday evening and the cause is still being investigated.
The semi-detached house was destroyed and the adjoining house had blackened walls as far as the upstairs windows.
The condition of the second house is not yet known.
A garda spokesman said: ‘Gardaí and emergency services attended the scene of a fire at a house in the Chapel Grove area of Balbriggan that occurred on 9/8/20 at approximately 6:30pm.
‘The blaze was dealt with by Dublin Fire Brigade. The cause of the fire is not yet known.
‘A technical examination of the scene will be carried out when it is safe to do so.’
The situation was complicated by a large fight that broke out at the weekend in the town.
Gardaí were distracted by an investigation into the mass fight organised in advance by more than 30 youths at the Dublin Shopping Centre in Balbriggan.
The group took over the shopping centre in Balbriggan on Saturday. It contains a Dunnes Stores and other major shops.
Video showed gardaí rushing to the scene and breaking up a fight that continued on the street. Other video shows a group of youths running away when they saw the gardaí approaching.
Gardaí also deployed a helicopter to monitor the scene and capture video of the fight, which continued for several hours. news@dailymail.ie