Gardai treating Ballybofey house fire as arson

Gardai are treating as arson a fire at a derelict house in Ballybofey.

The property, once a popular music school in the area, was engulfed by flames on Monday night.

Gardai have now confirmed that they are treating the incident as one of criminal damage.

The alarm was raised in relation to the blaze at approx. 9.35pm and firefighters from the Donegal Fire Service were at the scene for a number of hours battling the fire.

“Thankfully nobody was hurt,” a Garda spokesperson said. “The scene is being preserved and a full examination will take place this morning.

“The property in question was home to a music school in its day and it would be well known to everybody in the community. It has been vacant for a number of years now.”

A section of the Trusk Road between Finn Park and SuperValu was sealed off by gardai as the fire was brought under control.

The property in question has been vacant for the best part of the last 20 years.

The house was owned by the late Francis and Mai Mulrine. The couple ran Mulrine’s Furniture & Carpets on nearby Navenny Street while Mai was a popular music teacher who taught from her house on Trusk Road.

Francis Mulrine passed away in February, 2004 while Mai Mulrine died in July, 2005.

Gardai are appealing for witnesses.

A spokesperson said: “We are appealing for the assistance of the public in relation to any sightings of people in or around the property in question at any stage yesterday evening or last night between approx. 7pm and 9.30pm.

“If anybody travelled in that area (Trusk Road, Navenny Street or the link road between the Donegal Road and Trusk Road) with a dash cam at any stage yesterday evening or last night we ask them to make the footage available to Gardaí.

“If anybody can assist with this investigation we ask them to contact Gardaí in Letterkenny on 074-9167100. The Garda Confidential line may be reached on 1800 666 111.”