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. 21100Arson · Co. Donegal · 11 May 2023

Fire at proposed Ukrainian refugee housing in Buncrana investigated as suspected arson

A fire broke out on 11 May 2023 at a building in a business park in the Lisfannon area of Buncrana, Co Donegal, which gardaí are treating as suspected arson. The building was planned by former presidential candidate Peter Casey as a centre for Ukrainian refugees, was unoccupied, and had been the subject of a protest the previous month. The fire was reported shortly before midnight, with one account giving around 11:45pm, and fire services extinguished it after it caused substantial damage. Gardaí appealed for witnesses and dash-cam footage on 15 May, and on 16 May 2023 the investigation was ongoing with no arrest or charge reported.

  1. Reported15 May
    2 reports
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Gardaí are investigating a fire at a building in Buncrana, Co Donegal, as suspected arson.
  • The building was unoccupied and no one was inside at the time of the fire.
  • Substantial damage was caused to the building.
Where
The fire occurred at a premises within a business park in the Lisfannon area of Buncrana.
Other details
  • The building was planned by former presidential candidate Peter Casey as a centre for Ukrainian refugees.
  • Local fire services attended the scene and extinguished the fire.
  • The building had been the subject of a protest the previous month.
When
The fire was reported to gardaí shortly before midnight on 11 May 2023, with one account giving around 11:45pm on Thursday, 11 May.
Cause
The building is believed to have been started deliberately.
Investigation
  • A technical examination was carried out and the investigation is ongoing.
  • A Garda spokesman said the motive behind the incident will form part of the investigation.
  • Gardaí are appealing to anyone who travelled in the Lisfannon area between 8pm and midnight on 11 May, or who has dash-cam footage from the Derry to Buncrana Road or the Ludden/Lisfannon area, to come forward.
  • Anyone who saw suspicious activity is asked to contact Buncrana Garda Station or the Garda Confidential Line.
Charges
No arrest or charge has been reported as of 16 May 2023.
19 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGardaí are appealing for witnesses to an arson attack on a building in Buncrana. (donegallive.ie)
  • whatThe building was unoccupied at the time of the fire and was significantly damaged. (donegallive.ie)
  • whatGardaí were alerted to a fire in Lisfannon. (donegallive.ie)
  • whatFire services attended the scene and extinguished the fire. (donegallive.ie)
  • whatSubstantial damage was caused to the building. (donegallive.ie)
  • whereThe fire occurred at a premises within a business park in the Lisfannon area. (donegallive.ie)
  • whereThe alleged arson attack was at a proposed housing complex for Ukrainian refugees in Buncrana. (donegallive.ie)
  • whenThe fire was reported to gardaí shortly before midnight on 11 May. (donegallive.ie)
  • whenThe fire was reported at around 11:45pm on Thursday, 11 May. (donegallive.ie)
  • causeThe building is believed to have been started deliberately. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationGardaí said a technical examination was carried out and an investigation is ongoing. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationA Garda spokesman said the motive behind the incident will form part of the investigation. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationGardaí are appealing for anyone travelling in the Lisfannon area between 8pm and midnight on 11 May who saw relevant activity to come forward. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationGardaí are appealing to anyone with dash-cam footage who may have travelled on the main Derry to Buncrana Road, or who were in the general area of Ludden/Lisfannon at the time. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationAnyone who observed suspicious activity is asked to contact Buncrana Garda Station or the Garda Confidential Line. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherThe fire was extinguished by local fire services. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherThe building was planned by former presidential candidate Peter Casey as a centre for Ukrainian refugees. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherThe building had been the subject of a protest the previous month. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherThere was no one inside the building at the time of the fire. (donegallive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 16 May2023
    Reporteddonegallive.ie, first report
    Garda probe into alleged arson attack in Buncrana

    Adds the date (Thursday 11 May), the Lisfannon location, the damage, the deliberate-start belief and the appeal for dash-cam footage. The existing Sailor's Rest firework case is a different incident on 15 May at an operating centre, so it does not match.

  2. 15 May2023
    Reporteddonegallive.ie, follow-up
    Gardaí treating fire at proposed Buncrana refugee centre as arson

    Adds that the fire was reported shortly before midnight on 11 May, that the building was unoccupied and significantly damaged, that a technical examination was carried out, that gardaí are appealing for witnesses and road users' camera footage for 8pm to midnight, and that the building had been the subject of a protest. No arrest or charge is reported.