PAIR LEFT HOMELESS AFTER FIRE BOMBING

‘An innocent couple who had just moved in are out of their home’

A COUPLE had to flee their rented home in Riverbank after a petrol bomb smashed through the window of their living room while the pair slept upstairs.

They only moved into the house on November 20 and had just put up their Christmas tree, which was destroyed in the blaze, last Wednesday.

The incident was the latest attack on the house, after an attempted fire bombing on November 10 and 12.

It is believed the former tenants, who have now left the country, were the intended targets.

A source said that the couple now resident in the Riverbank house were left ‘shocked, stunned and frightened’ by the attack on their new home. They have since moved to a hotel out of fear.

‘ They are an innocent couple who have just moved in. They don’t understand what is going on in Drogheda and they have no links to anything. It’s not fair on innocent people to be treated like this so close to Christmas. They are now out of their new home.’

The new tenants were aware of the previous incidents and were hesitant about moving in, but wanted to be in a house for Christmas.

‘It’s terrible for them. The entire inside of the house has been fire damaged and it will take a long time to clean it up,’ the source added.

Meanwhile, investigations are ongoing after a number of incidents last week, some believed to be connected with an ongoing feud in the town.

Houses were petrol bombed on Monday and Tuesday of last week and on Wednesday, at 8.45pm, a shed was set alight on the Donore Road.

At 2.15am the following morning, a car was set on fire at Tredagh View.

Gardai are continuing to keep a high profile on the streets and roads around town, with a number of checkpoints in place.