Anger and questions in wake of Carnmore fire
If a fire at a property in Carnmore, intended to house a Traveller family is found to have been the result of arson, it exposes a very dangerous underbelly in society, a local councillor has warned.
The house, located at Kiltulla near Carnmore Airport, was purchased by Galway City Council in March for just under €400,000 to accommodate a family from Carrowbrowne Temporary Halting Site – with the Council confirming this week that they intend to repair the property and proceed with their plans.
Galway Traveller Movement (GTM) said the family who were due to move into their new home were “devastated” and that if the fire was found to be deliberate, it was an “insidious crime, not just aimed at one family, but against the entire Traveller community”.
There was ferocious local opposition to the purchase, and the City Council’s decision to buy the property in the County Council’s administrative area had been sharply criticised by county councillors.
Gardaí are investigating “suspected criminal damage” caused by a “fire incident” that took place at the property in the early hours of Monday morning, which resulted in significant damage – with the roof being entirely destroyed.
Cllr Martina O’Connor (Green) said she was devastated at the news and while the cause of the fire had not yet been established, added if it was found to have been caused deliberately, it was “the worst act of racism in Galway in a very long time”.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.