This article is from page 16 of the 2014-09-02 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 16 JPG
A GARDA investigation is continuing following a “sinister” attempt to set fire to Ennis Courthouse last week. A homemade petrol bomb was fired through a window of a downstairs courtroom at the rear of the building in the early hours of Thursday morning.
The break in activated an alarm and gardaí and a unit of Ennis Fire Brigade arrived at the scene at 3.45am.
Only minor property damage was caused to the courtroom, which is home to the Family Law Court.
The courts were on the August holiday break and no disruption was caused to administrative court business.
A bottle containing a cloth and traces of an accelerant were discov- ered in the room.
Gardaí have commenced an extensive investigation.
The scene was the subject of a forensic examination on Thursday and gardaí have carried out door-to-door enquiries in the immediate area.
Gardaí are also trawling through CCTV footage from the grounds of the Courthouse and from Newbridge Road, New Road, Lifford Road and parts of the town centre.
They are also appealing for anyone who may have been in the area on the night to contact them.
Detective Inspector John Galvin from Ennis Garda Station, who is leading the investigation, says there were an “unusually high number of people” in the town at the time attending a debs ball.
“There were a lot of people and cars in the area because of the debs. There were quite a number of cars tipping about.
“You would have had parents collecting their children.
“We can see it on the CCTV, people in tuxedos and dresses going along the road.
“If this was two weeks ago there would not have been a sinner on the street.
“We would ask that anyone who did see anything unusual to contact us at Ennis Garda Station,” he explained.
Det Insp Galvin said the incident is being treated as “arson”.
Gardaí have yet to establish any motive for the crime.
Among their avenues of investigation is whether there is any significance in the bottle being thrown through the window of the Family Law Court.
“We’re looking at that but we don’t know yet if that is of any significance,” Det Insp Galvin said,
He continued, “We’re keeping it in mind during our investigations but the reality is we don’t yet know. We don’t what the motive was.
“An incident like this has never happened at a courthouse in my lifetime. It’s a most unusual sort of offence and at the moment we do not have a motive. I find it quite sinister.
“This is the seat of justice in Clare and for the people in Ennis, it is an iconic and historic building.
“There was relatively minor property damage but it’s the sinister aspect to this that makes it quite serious,” Det Insp Galvin added.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Ennis Garda Station at 065 6848100.
The normal court schedule returns this week at Ennis.