Family escape after suspected firebomb attack on house in Ballyvolane

A garda investigation is under way after a firebomb was thrown at a house in Cork city in the early hours of Thursday morning.

The occupants of the home on Meadow Park Avenue in Ballyvolane, on the northside of the city, managed to escape the property.

Members of the family who were inside the house at the time of the attack escaped without serious injuries but were treated for smoke inhalation.

Cork City Fire Brigade and gardaí are understood to have arrived at the scene shortly after the alarm was raised.

A garda spokesperson said: "Gardaí and emergency services attended the scene of criminal damage by fire to a domestic residence in Ballyvolane, Co. Cork shortly before 4:30am.

"The local fire service extinguished the fire. No injuries were reported. Investigations are ongoing."

The incident is the latest in a series of attacks on homes in Cork city.

A house in the Tramore Road area of Ballyphehane was set on fire in an early morning attack last month.

In February, a mother and her two sons were forced to flee a house fire caused by a suspected arson attack on their family home in the Silver Birch estate in Rochestown on the city’s southside.

One of those forced to escape was a 12-year-old boy.

His brother, aged 24, had to jump from a first-floor window to escape, sustaining leg injuries.

Gardaí, who have been asked for a statement about the latest attack, are understood to be appealing for witnesses to Thursday morning’s fire.