A Waterford councillor says a fire at a council house in the City yesterday was very unusual.

The semi-detached property in Connolly Place was damaged by a fire on Thursday morning before 8am.

Gardaí are investigating the incident.

Sinn Féin’s Jim Griffin says the council had retaken the house the day before the fire.

He said “Any houses that are vacant around the City and County do attract anti social behaviour and everything that goes with that.
This was most unusual that the fire started at 8am in the morning, the council had only taken charge of the house the day before,
there’s something at play in my mind there. I would say to people, put your trust in us, we are going to keep looking for these houses to
be occupied but I can understand clearly why residents in a normally quiet area of Waterford City would be very concerned about a
fire at that hour of the morning when kids are getting ready for school and parents are going to work.”

Councillor Jim Griffin says the council needs to ensure vacant properties do not remain empty.