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. 18462Arson · Co. Donegal · 29 Jan 2024

Ballybofey derelict house fire treated as arson

A fire broke out at an unoccupied, derelict house on Trusk Road, Ballybofey, Co Donegal, on Monday night, 29 January 2024, and the alarm was raised at about 9.35pm. The house, once a music school, was owned by the late Francis and Mai Mulrine and had been vacant for the best part of 20 years. Gardaí are treating the fire as arson and as criminal damage, and nobody was hurt. No arrest or suspect has been reported, and the latest development is a Garda appeal for witnesses and dash cam footage from the area between about 7pm and 9.30pm.

  1. Reported30 Jan
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
A fire broke out at an unoccupied, derelict house that once served as a music school.
Where
The house is on Trusk Road, Ballybofey, Co Donegal.
When
The fire was reported at about 9.35pm on Monday night, which the key facts date to 29 January 2024.
Cause
Gardaí are treating the fire as arson, and have also confirmed they are treating the incident as criminal damage.
Investigation
  • Gardaí are carrying out a full investigation into the circumstances of the blaze.
  • The scene was preserved for a full examination.
  • Gardaí are appealing for witnesses and for dash cam footage from the area between about 7pm and 9.30pm.
Other details
  • No arrest or suspect has been reported.
  • Nobody was hurt in the fire.
  • Donegal Fire Service firefighters were at the scene for a number of hours battling the fire.
  • Gardaí sealed off a section of Trusk Road while the fire was brought under control.
  • The property has been vacant for the best part of the last 20 years and was owned by the late Francis and Mai Mulrine.
12 statements extracted from the articles
  • whereA fire broke out at an unoccupied house on Trusk Road, Ballybofey. (donegallive.ie)
  • whenThe fire was reported at about 9.35pm on Monday night. (donegallive.ie)
  • causeGardaí are treating the fire as arson. (donegallive.ie)
  • causeGardaí have confirmed they are treating the incident as criminal damage. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationA full investigation into the circumstances of the blaze will be carried out by gardaí. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationThe scene was preserved for a full examination. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationGardaí are appealing for witnesses and for dash cam footage from the area between about 7pm and 9.30pm. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherNobody was hurt in the fire. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherDonegal Fire Service firefighters were at the scene for a number of hours battling the fire. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherA section of Trusk Road was sealed off by gardaí while the fire was brought under control. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherThe property has been vacant for the best part of the last 20 years. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherThe house was owned by the late Francis and Mai Mulrine. (donegallive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 30 Jan2024
    Reporteddonegallive.ie, first report
    Gardai treating Ballybofey house fire as arson

    First report of the incident. The article gives Monday night as the date; 29 January 2024 is inferred from the article's publication date of 30 January 2024. No suspect or arrest is reported.