Crime & Law

Garda investigation under way after five Cork city stores targeted in arson attack

One of the retailers suffered about €100,000 in damages to its stock, says Cork City Fire Brigade officer

Cork City Fire Brigade was called to respond to an incident at a store on Patrick Street at 5.15 and shortly after received four other calls from nearby premises. Photograph: Cork City Fire Brigade/X

Olivia Kelleher
Mon Feb 26 2024 - 18:54

A Cork fire officer has indicated that one of the five stores targeted in an arson attack in Cork city centre yesterday evening has experienced about €100,000 in damage to its stock.

A Garda investigation has been launched after TK Maxx, Lifestyle Sports, Superdry, Next and Boots outlets in the city had to be evacuated yesterday following arson attacks.

Some shops experienced minor fire damage while the impact was more serious in others.

The alarm was raised shortly after 5.15pm on Sunday when Cork City Fire Brigade was called to respond to an incident at a store on Patrick Street. They subsequently received four other calls from nearby premises.

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Second Officer with Cork City Fire Brigade, Victor Shine, told Cork’s Red FM that the damage in one store could be more than €100,000, because of smoke damage to stock.

Mr Shine told the Neil Prendeville Show that an incident of this type was a rare occurrence in Cork city. He praised staff at the impacted stores for their enormous professionalism during the incident.

“Multiple events like this are extremely rare. In fairness I must congratulate the staff for how they dealt with the situation extinguishing fire, keeping the situation under control and using evacuation protocol and protecting the members of the public in their store. Luckily, there was nobody injured in this.”

Meanwhile, a Garda inquiry into the incident of criminal damage is ongoing. Technical examinations have been conducted by the crime scenes unit.

The Garda Technical Bureau will determine what was used to start the fires. It is understood that each incident was quickly brought under control by the city fire brigade.

Crews from Anglesea Street and Ballyvolane were deployed to tackle the fires.

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