Gardaí have arrested and charged a juvenile male in connection with an investigation into a fire at a building in Oldcastle, Co. Meath, on Saturday (October 31).
The juvenile is appearing before a special sitting of Trim District Court at 2:15pm today (Tuesday, November 3).
No injuries were reported, although there was extensive damage to the property. Fire service personnel extinguished the fire.
On Saturday night, local TD for the area Johnny Guirke posted a video of the fire on social media.
He added a brief statement: “It’s sad to see a local business in flames on Halloween night, many people could lose their jobs and, if this was started maliciously which puts our local firemen at risk, I would hope that the Gardaí can get to the bottom of this fire.”
It's sad to see a local business in flames on Halloween night, many people could lose their jobs and if this was started maliciously which puts our local firemen at risk, I would hope that the Gardai can get to the bottom of this fire. pic.twitter.com/3bWE5u7sON
— Johnny Guirke TD Meath West (@JohnnyGuirke) October 31, 2020
Cold callers who pressurised woman to buy generators and chainsaws jailed
In other crime-related news, two “cold callers” appeared before the courts and have been handed jail terms for pressurising an elderly woman into paying an “extortionate price” for a number of machines and tools, according to An Garda Síochána.
The two men were sentenced to two years’ imprisonment each, the national law enforcement authority said.
In a statement today (Tuesday, November 3), An Garda Síochána said:
The men called to an elderly lady’s home in west Cork, uninvited, and made her feel pressurised into paying an extortionate price for 12 chainsaws, 11 generators, seven power washers and assorted tools which she had no use for and did not want.
Continuing, the Garda statement warned: “If you have elderly or vulnerable neighbours and see or hear about bogus traders doing the rounds, let them and ourselves know so we can put out additional patrols.
“If you suspect that anyone who calls to your door selling goods or services is not who they say they are, tell them you are not interested and call the Gardaí immediately. Genuine trade’s people won’t be offended by any queries the Gardaí may make.”