Gardai investigate suspect house fire
INCIDENT SAW MAN JUMP FROM UPSTAIRS WINDOW TO ESCAPE BLAZE
GARDAI are appealing for witnesses following a blaze at a house in Castle Park, where a man jumped from a first floor window to escape the fire.
A spokesman for Dundalk gardai say they are investigating the fire after a suspected item was reported to have been thrown into the property in the early hours of last Wednesday morning, July 4th.
Analysis has been carried out at the scene, and investigations are ongoing to determine if a flammable substance was used.
Two males were reported to have fled the scene in a dark coloured saloon type car.
The sole occupant of the house, a man in his 50s, was reported to have jumped from the first floor, through a window from a bedroom at the back of the house in a bid to escape the fire shortly after 2.am.
The alarm was raised and he was taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hopsital, Drogheda by ambulance in a critical condition, suffering from smoke inhalation.
He remained in a critical condition as of yesterday (Monday).
Dundalk Fire Service confirmed they attended the scene at 2.10a.m, and despite their efforts the house was gutted by fire.
Dundalk gardai are appealing for witnesses and in particular anyone who may have been driving in the Castletown Road area from 1.p.m, to contact them on the confidential line 1800 666 111 or on 042 93 88400.
Meanwhile gardai are investigating a break in to the St. Louis convent on Friday last.
A rear door was forced open into the building, but nothing was reported stolen.
Construction works are ongoing at the school after a fire gutted a building in May.
Gardai are also investigating a break in at a house in Oldbridge, Toberona over the last week where a key was removed from the lock at the rear of the house. Nothing was reported missing from inside the property.
There were 13 public order incidents recorded by gardai over the last week.