Digger targeted in arson attack
Gardaí are treating as malicious the burning out of a digger that was parked on lands on the outskirts of Tuam – leaving the machine as a complete write-off.
It is understood that those responsible for the damage to the digger – said to be worth in the region of €30,000 – accessed the lands on the Weir Road in Tuam last Thursday week before setting the machine on fire.
A five gallon drum believed to contain flammable liquid was found by Gardaí at the scene where a forensic examination has taken place. A unit of Galway Fire Brigade was called out to extinguish the blaze.
The digger is owned by contractor Sean Collins from Ballyglunin, who had transported the machine to the lands the previous weekend with the intention of carrying out drainage works.
Mr Collins told The Connacht Tribune that the loss of the digger had huge implications for his business and is co-operating with the Gardaí as part of their investigations into the incident.
The digger, which is on tracks, was brought to the lands on the Weir Road on a trailer and it was planned to carry out the works last weekend but on Thursday evening last it was set alight.
“I was in Claregalway at the time and I received a call from my son telling me that the Gardaí in Tuam wanted to speak to me. Then I discovered that the machine had been set on fire.