Gardaí at scene of fire at former hotel in Waterford

Sarah Slater

Gardaí currently remain at the scene of a large fire which broke out a former hotel on the Kilkenny/Waterford city border on Friday evening.

The blaze broke out late on Friday evening at the site of the Ard Rí hotel which overlooks the city.

The extensive site has been vacant for several years with an ownership battle ending up before the High Court.

The area has been sealed off by the gardaí to allow for a forensic examination of the scene in an effort to ascertain how the blaze occurred.

In a statement, gardaí said that emergency services in Waterford responded to the fire at the Ard Ri hotel site in the city last evening.

The alarm was raised after smoke was seen billowing from the site and units of Waterford fire brigade attended

Gardaí “received report of a fire at a derelict premises in the Ferrybank area of Waterford, late yesterday evening.

“Local Fire and emergency services attended. No injuries have been reported. A scene is currently held at the premises for technical examination.”

Enquiries by gardaí are ongoing.

The Treacy Hotel Group and US fund Cerberus reached an agreement in relation to the ownership of the Ard Rí Hotel in Waterford City last April.

The Treacy Hotel Group asked the High Court to enforce a contract to buy the Ard Rí Hotel for €1.6 million, which the business maintained that it agreed with US fund Cerberus and receiver Luke Charleton of EY - previously Ernst & Young - on November 21st, 2016.

The Treacy Hotel Group paid a €160,000 non-refundable deposit on that date and subsequently demonstrated that it had the cash to pay for the property.

Lawyers for various parties in the case told Mr Justice Michael Quinn in the High Court on Tuesday that the sides had reached an agreement, but did not disclose any terms.

Mr Justice Quinn commended the parties on reaching agreement.