Saturday 31 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 20434Arson (criminal damage) · Co. Wexford · 5 Jul 2023

Arson attack at Mount Brandon Hotel car park, New Ross, Wexford

An explosion occurred in the car park of the Mount Brandon Hotel in New Ross, Co Wexford, on Wednesday 5 July 2023, shortly before midnight, according to reports, with nearby residents hearing a loud explosion around 11.30pm. Gardaí believe an accelerant was used to ignite a Mini and an Audi, with a fuel trail leading to both cars, and two adjoining vehicles were also damaged; two people are recorded as victims. Gardaí are treating the incident as arson and investigating it as criminal damage. As of 6 July 2023, no one had been arrested or charged.

  1. Reported6 Jul
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • An explosion occurred in the car park of the Mount Brandon Hotel in New Ross, Co Wexford.
  • The two cars, a Mini and an Audi, were set alight, and a fuel trail led to both of them.
  • Two adjoining vehicles were also damaged, and a Volvo 171 parked two spaces away sustained serious heat damage.
Where
The incident took place in the hotel car park in New Ross, Co Wexford.
When
The incident occurred shortly before midnight on Wednesday 5 July 2023, and residents in nearby housing estates heard a loud explosion around 11.30pm.
Cause
An accelerant was believed to have been used to ignite the Mini and the Audi.
Other details
  • The hotel was evacuated for around twenty minutes while emergency services attended the blaze.
  • Two fire tenders from New Ross attended, and the fire service remained at the scene until 3.30am.
  • Two people are recorded as victims in the case.
  • One of the vehicles belonged to someone from outside the New Ross area, and the other written-off vehicle was owned by a businessman.
Investigation
  • Gardaí are treating the incident as arson and are investigating it as a criminal damage incident.
  • As of 6 July 2023, no one had been arrested.
Charges
No charge has been reported.
15 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatAn explosion occurred in the car park of the Mount Brandon Hotel in New Ross, Co Wexford. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatA fuel trail led to both cars. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatTwo adjoining vehicles were also damaged. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatA Volvo 171 parked two spaces away sustained serious damage from the heat. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe hotel was evacuated for around twenty minutes. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatTwo fire tenders from New Ross arrived at the scene. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe two cars became engulfed in a fire ball. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe incident occurred shortly before midnight on Wednesday night. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenPeople in surrounding housing estates heard a loud explosion around 11.30pm. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe fire service remained at the scene until 3.30am. (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeAn accelerant was believed to have been used to ignite a Mini vehicle and an Audi vehicle. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationNo one has been arrested. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí are treating the incident as arson and investigating it as a criminal damage incident. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherOne of the vehicles belonged to someone from outside the New Ross area. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe other written-off vehicle was owned by a businessman. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 6 Jul2023
    Reportedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Gardaí rush to scene after reports of large explosion in hotel carpark

    First report of the arson attack at the Mount Brandon Hotel car park in New Ross, with details on the vehicles damaged, the evacuation, and the ongoing investigation.

    victimvictim