Tanning salon set ablaze after car reverses into it
Firefighters tackled inferno and helped get residents out from apartments
GARDAI have launched a criminal damage probe after a tanning shop went up in flames when a car reversed into it.
Residents living in apartments above the Sun Tan Studio on Tullow Street in Carlow Town were also forced to flee in the early hours of yesterday after the inferno engulfed the salon.
Social media videos show a car on fire which appeared to have backed through the front doors.
It remains unclear if the car caught fire as a result of the crash or if it was deliberately set ablaze.
Firefighters raced to the scene shortly after 2.30am and helped to get residents in the apartments out before bringing the blaze under control.
The Irish Mirror understands the living quarters upstairs were not damaged by the fire itself but many flats have extensive smoke damage.
The blaze has striking similarities to an incident in May 2022 – when a tanning shop on the same street just metres away also went up in flames.
In that incident, a car reversed through the front of the Bikini Beach salon before it went on fire. Speaking about yesterday’s blaze,
SHOCK Councillor Fintan Phelan
Councillor Fintan Phelan told the Irish Mirror: “It was a shocking attack. Carlow Town is a fantastic town.
“We had the International Pan Celtic Festival in Carlow last week where we were showcasing the best of Carlow and then this mindless act of violence takes place in the centre of town is despicable.
“I want to urge everybody to co-operate and if anybody has any information to pass it on to An Garda Siochana.” Cllr Phelan added: “I hope whoever did is brought to the full rigours of the law.”
In a statement, gardai said they are “investigating an incident of criminal damage and fire”.
They said: “The incident occurred at around 2.30am when a car impacted with the front of the building.”
If anybody has any info pass it on to gardai COUNCILLOR FINTAN PHELAN YESTERDAY