‘BUSINESS PARK BLAZE WAS ARSON’
Garda probe as fire causes in excess of €25,000 in damage
GARDAÍ believe a blaze which caused thousands of euro in damage at a transport repair business was started deliberately.
The fire at Transport Repair Solutions in Kilrane Business Park late Sunday night/early Monday morning completely destroyed one office and badly damaged another, with an estimated repair bill in excess of €25,000.
Gardaí were alerted to the blaze by the fire service shortly after midnight on Sunday.
Inspector Denis Whelan confirmed that gardaí were treating the incident as an arson attack, and were carrying out door-to-door inquiries as well as inspecting CCTV footage.
The family-run business, which is owned by Mick and Maria Rice, has been operating from the business park for the past seven years.
Mr Rice explained that they live half a mile from the premises and they were made aware of the fire when a neighbour, who had seen the flames and called the fire brigade, contacted him.
‘The office is gutted and everything to do with the business is gone. We were in the process of changing from a sole trader to a limited company and we’re back to square one on that now because all of the documentation was in the office. We have a month of hardship ahead of us.’
Mr Rice went straight to the scene at midnight on Sunday and spent all day Monday at the premises, trying to see how they could weather-proof what remains of their offices. He pointed out that aluminium door and window frames had twisted into knots with the ferocity of the blaze.
A garda Scenes of Crime forensic team inspected the scene on Monday while gardai carried out door-to-door inquiries.
Mr Rice remarked that he couldn’t do anything on the site until the insurance assessors inspected the scene. He added that his garage was not damaged so he would be able to work there once he was given the go-ahead.
He remarked: ‘You could sit down and cry about it but you have to pick yourself up, carry on and try to make a living.’