From the Galway City Tribune – Gardaí are investigating two suspected arson attacks in Ballybane – the first of which destroyed a house that was due to be allocated to a family by the City Council.

On the evening of Wednesday, August 31, emergency services were called to a fire in Gort Cam, where the recently renovated property was left “completely destroyed”.

Local area councillor, Alan Cheevers (FF), told the Galway City Tribune that the fire gutted the inside of the property and caused somewhere in the region of €30,000.

“This property was under renovation by the Council and was almost finished. The works were nearly complete, it had been allocated to a family and it was almost ready to hand over.

“The inside has been completely destroyed and Gardaí are investigating what the cause was, but it is suspected that it was malicious,” said Cllr Cheevers.

“I have written to the Director of Housing and the senior engineer in relation to the house and asked what the cost of the damage was, but it’s supposedly around €30,000. I want to know if insurance will cover it, and if there is adequate security on other Council properties to ensure the same doesn’t happen,” he continued.

Meanwhile, Gardaí confirmed that they are investigating an arson attack at Rian Luachra in Ballybane where two petrol bombs were thrown at a car in the early hours of the morning.

A garda spokesperson told the Galway City Tribune that at around 1.55am on September 2, a car drove into the area and the two petrol bombs were launched at a parked car, causing an estimated €2,000 worth of damage.  Gardaí believe this attack is related to an ongoing feud between two families in the area.  Anyone with information on either event is asked to contact Galway Garda Station.