[ad_1]
Gardaí in Galway is investigating a night fire that destroyed a house that had recently been bought to accommodate a family of travelers.
The house in Carnmore, near Galway Airport, was destroyed by the fire, which was discovered shortly before 5 a.m. Monday.
There are unconfirmed reports that three large bales of silage blocked the entrance to the house, which had been unoccupied for some time. Nobody was hurt in the incident.
Galway City Council paid € 388,000 for the four-bedroom property in March, and the remodel is expected to bring the total cost to around € 430,000.
The measure was rejected by local residents and also by some councilors who expressed concern about the purchase of a house by the city authority in an area of the Galway County Council.
The cause of the fire has yet to be established and Gardaí said they are open-minded about it.
They have asked that witnesses contact them at the Mill Street Garda station at 091-538000.
Former city mayor Cllr Niall McNeilis said there are concerns that the fire was deliberately started to prevent the Traveler family from moving there.
“If this is arson, then it’s 100 steps back for society,” he said.
[ad_2]