ARSON – CLONBULLOGE
Family appeal for information relating to a devastating case of arson.
Tonight, on RTÉ Oneat 9.35pm, Crimecall will appeal for information relating to a case of arson that occurred on a family farm in Co. Offaly.
On the morning of the 27thNovember 2021, the O’Neill family farm on the outskirts of Clonbulloge, Co. Offaly, was engulfed in flames. Farm owner, Eugene O’Neill, recalls the confusion and fear that faced his family that morning:“Our neighbour banged on our bedroom window…There was smoke everywhere. We didn’t even know what was on fire and what wasn’t.”
The family discovered several fires in and around their farm, putting at risk not only their livestock and expensive farm machinery, but their own house as well.
Eugene’s wife, Lorraine, vividly remembers the intensity of the flames and the scramble as family members entered burning sheds to rescue animals and equipment:“There was a huge ball of orange flames facing me… You watched holding your breath until they came out. That was horrible.”
Gardaí investigators found that the farm machinery had been “individually packed with straw” and set alight. Although the farm was covered by extensive CCTV cameras, Garda believe the cable to the cameras was deliberately cut shortly before 5am on the morning of the fire.They say the hard drive for the cameras was taken on the night and “has yet to be recovered.”
Approximately €400,000 – €500,000 worth of damage was caused by the fire that night including the destruction of an automatic milking robot, hampering the family’s plans for expanding the farm. One of Eugene’s biggest concerns is whether“they will come back and do it again.”
The entire family have struggled to understand how anybody could deliberately start a fire on their property. Lorraine says“It’s the most terrifying feeling to think that when you go to bed at night, there are people on the road, moving around with bad intent.”
Gardaí believe this was a targeted act on the O’Neill family and are appealing to the local community to come forward with information.
Garda Contacts:
Crimecall: 1800 40 50 60, Freetext 50123, Email:crimecall@garda.ie
Garda Confidential Line: 1800 666 111
COIRLOSCADH – CLUAIN BOLG
PREASRÁITEAS – CRIMECALL
Achainí teaghlaigh ar fhaisnéis a bhaineann le cás uafásach coirloiscthe.
Anocht ar Crimecall, ar RTÉ1 ag 9.35pm, déanfar achainí ar fhaisnéis a bhaineann le cás coirloiscthe ar fheirm theaghlaigh i gCo. Uíbh Fhailí.
Ar maidin an 27 Samhain 2021, shlog tine feirm theaghlaigh O’Neill ar imeall Chluain Bolg, Co. Uíbh Fhailí. Is cuimhin le Eugene O’Neill, úinéir na feirme, an mearbhall agus an faitíos a bhí ann i measc a mhuintire an mhaidin sin: “Bhuail ár gcomharsan ar fhuinneog ár seomra leapa… Bhí deatach ar fud na háite. Ní raibh a fhios againn fiú céard a bhí trí thine agus céard nach raibh.”
Tháinig an teaghlach ar roinnt tinte ar an bhfeirm agus mórthimpeall uirthi, a chuir a gcuid beostoic agus innealra costasaigh feirme i mbaol, ach anuas air sin, a chuir a dteach féin i mbaol chomh maith.
Tá cuimhne ghrinn ag Lorraine, bean Eugene, ar dhéine na lasracha agus sciolairt daoine den teaghlach ag dul isteach i seideanna a bhí trí thine chun tarrtháil a thabhairt ar ainmhithe agus ar fhearas: “Bhí laom ollmhór lasrach oráiste os mo chomhair… Bhreathnaíomar, agus an anáil á coinneáil istigh againn, go dtí gur tháinig siad slán amach as. Bhí sé sin uafásach.”
Fuair fiosraitheoirí an Gharda Síochána amach gur pacáladh innealra feirme le tuí, ceann ar cheann, agus gur cuireadh trí thine iad. Cé go raibh ceamaraí TCI ar fud na feirme, chreid na Gardaí gur gearradh an cábla chuig na ceamaraí d’aon ghnó go gairid roimh 5am ar maidin na tine. Dúirt siad gur tógadh tiomántán crua na gceamaraí an oíche sin agus “nár aisghabhadh go fóill é”.
Rinne an tine damáiste arbh fhiú tuairim is €400,000 – €500,000 é an oíche sin, lena n-áirítear scriosadh róbat bleáin uathoibríoch, rud a chur bac ar phleananna an teaghlaigh cur leis an bhfeirm. An dtiocfaidh siad ar ais chun é a dhéanamh arís? Is é sin is mó atá ag déanamh imní do Eugene.
Tá sé ag dul deacair ar an teaghlach ar fad an bealach a bhféadfadh duine ar bith tine a lasadh d’aon ghnó ar a maoin a thuiscint. Dúirt Lorraine go gcuireann sé “faitíos uafásach ort agus tú ag dul a chodladh san oíche a bheith ag smaoineamh go bhfuil daoine amuigh ar an mbóthar ag bogadh timpeall agus rún mioscaise acu.”
Creideann na Gardaí gur ghníomh spriocdhírithe ar mhuintir O’Neill a bhí ann agus tá siad ag iarraidh ar an bpobal áitiúil teacht chucu má tá eolas ar bith acu.
Teagmhálaithe an Gharda Síochána:
Crimecall: 1800 40 50 60, Saorthéacs 50123, Ríomhphost:crimecall@garda.ie
Líne Rúnda an Gharda Síochána: 1800 666 111
-ENDS-
26th of September
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