Olivia Kelleher
Gardaí are investigating an incident of criminal damage by fire at a terraced house in Charleville, Co Cork on Friday evening which arose as a result of a feud between two families.
Emergency services were called to the property shortly before 9pm on Friday night.
A group of men wearing balaclavas had smashed windows and attempted to set fire to the empty property.
Shots were also fired inside the premises. The house was extensively damaged. A car was also criminally damaged in the incident.
The Garda Press Office has confirmed that scenes of crime investigators attended at the house and conducted an examination of the premises.
The house was vacant at the time of the incident. Gardaí have indicated that enquiries are ongoing.
Meanwhile, it is understood that the incident occurred arose out of a dispute between two families in Kilmallock in Co Limerick and in Charleville.
On Friday morning, shots were fired at an empty house in Kilmallock as part of the ongoing rivalry.
A petrol bomb was also thrown at a property in Knocknaheeny in Cork city earlier this week as a result of the dispute.
A number of files on different incidents which have taken place arising out of the feud have been sent to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Members of the public who may have spotted unusual activity in the Charleville area, between 5pm and 11pm on Friday are asked to contact investigating gardai.
Gardaí are also appealing for information in relation to an Audi A6, a white Skoda Rapid, a BMW and a silver Ford Focus car, which travelled through the Charleville area at this time.
Any road users or pedestrians who were in the area during this time and who may have camera footage (including dash cam) are asked to make this available to gardaí.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Mallow Garda Station on 022 31450, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.
