Residents of Cork estate 'living in fear' after series of attacks on house
A boarded-up window at the house on Meadow Park Ave which was the subject on Thursday morning of an arson attack. Picture: Donal O'Keeffe
Residents of a northside housing estate say they are living in fear after the latest in a series of attacks occurred there in the early hours of Thursday morning.
A garda investigation is underway after a petrol bomb was thrown at a house in Meadow Park Avenue in Ballyvolane early yesterday morning.
The occupants of the house escaped without serious injuries and were later treated at the scene for smoke inhalation.
The alarm was raised shortly before 4.30am and the fire was extinguished by two units of Cork City Fire Brigade.
The house's living room window was boarded up yesterday, with burn marks visible above the window and door.
Two years ago, a grenade was thrown at the same house.
That incident occurred in the early hours of September 2, 2024, with the device failing to detonate. Several neighbouring houses had to be evacuated while a Defence Forces bomb disposal team attended the scene.
One resident, who declined to give their name, told on Thursday that local people are “living in fear” in the estate.
“This used to be a grand, peaceful area, with a lovely community, never any trouble here, and now we don’t know when the next attack will happen,” they said.
“We have cars flying around and small kids on scramblers in the daytime and we’re woken up at night with the fire brigade and the guards; we have no peace.”
Local Labour Party councillor John Maher said the situation in Meadow Park Ave had been allowed to get out of control.
“We need the gardaí to step up and take charge, and we need Cork City Council to do their job too, and manage this situation so decent people can get on with their lives in peace and quiet,” he said.
Thursday’s incident is the latest in a series of arson attacks across Cork city in recent months.
Last month a house in Ballyphehane was set alight, while in February, a Rochestown family had to flee their home after an arson attack.
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