‘TRAUMATIC’ ATTACK ON GARDA’S HOME
PREGNANT WIFE AND CHILDREN HAD TO EVACUATE
A suspected arson attack on the Bay Estate home of a serving garda has been described as a ‘ truly traumatic incident for him and his young family.’
The alarm was raised shortly after 11pm on Sunday night, and the fire led to significant damage caused to the exterior of the house.
The Garda Representative Association (GRA) condemned the attack on the garda’s home on Sunday night, when the officer’s pregnant wife and two small children had to evacuate their home. General Secretary Pat Ennis said gardaí in the border region have been ‘repeatedly attacked for reasons connected to their work.’
‘ This is the third attack on a Garda’s home in and around Dundalk in the past 18 months. On behalf of all GRA members, I extend our support to the affected Garda. This was a truly traumatic incident for our member and his family. He had two small children and an expectant wife and had to evacuate the house after neighbours raised the alarm.’
The Argus has learned that there have been two other assaults on serving gardai’s homes and property over the last 18 months, with separate incidents at the Red Barns Road and at Knockbridge.
The GRA General Secretary added ‘ This latest incident shows the need for regular risk assessments to be carried out for gardaí investigating violent and serious crime. Attacking the property of committed public servants who have been targeted for carrying out their duty is a serious crime and I very much hope those responsible are brought to justice as soon as possible.’
Dundalk Gardaí are appealing for witnesses, and are particularly appealing to anyone who was in the Bay Estate area between 10.30pm and 11.30pm on Sunday night to come forward. They are also appealing for information on the movements of a white van in the Bay Estate area earlier in the day.
The suspected arson attack on the family home of a serving Garda in Bay Estate has been condemned by Dundalk TD Ruairí Ó Murchú who said the ‘ brazen and shocking’ incident was ‘an attack on the whole community’.
The TD said: ‘I want to utterly condemn the actions of those who started this fire. If this attack was targeted because of the Garda’s work, this is an extremely serious, malicious and shocking attack on a family who are well-known and very well respected in this area.’
‘ This was an incredibly serious incident and, if this Garda’s home was deliberately attacked because of his job, it is a dreadful escalation by criminal elements in Dundalk and the wider area. There have been a number of attacks on Gardaí in Louth in the last 18 months.
‘ There is no doubt that but for the swift response of the fire service this could have been a lot worse – it was a very large fire.’
‘It was a blaze that caused damage to the exterior of the house but there was a family inside, who were alerted by a neighbour.
He said the community in Bay Estate was ‘deeply worried and concerned’ by the fire, which was ‘an attack on the whole community’.
He said: ‘Anyone who has footage of this incident or
CCTV from the area, or who knows who is responsible for this, should contact Gardaí in Dundalk.’
‘ This family deserves the support and help of the entire community at this time and anyone who can help should come forward.
Gardai are appealing to anyone with information to contact Dundalk Garda Station on (042) 938 8400 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111.