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. 20550Arson · Co. Offaly · 27 Nov 2021

Gardaí appeal for information over 2021 arson at Clonbullogue farm, Offaly

A fire was started maliciously in the early hours of 27 November 2021 at the Clonbullogue, Co Offaly farm of Lorraine and Eugene O'Neill, destroying sheds and machinery. Gardaí say it was a targeted act of arson, and no suspect has been named. The family and gardaí made an appeal for information in December 2021, and an earlier appeal aired on RTÉ's Crimecall in October of the previous year. The latest development is a fresh appeal on Crimecall in June 2023, and no arrest or charge has been reported.

  1. Reported27 Jun
    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
Sheds and machinery at the O'Neill family farm were destroyed in a fire.
Where
The farm belongs to Lorraine and Eugene O'Neill in Clonbullogue, Co Offaly.
When
  • The fire was started maliciously in the early hours of 27 November 2021.
  • CCTV in the yard was cut at about 4.45am, and the family saw the buildings on fire at 6.45am.
Cause
  • Gardaí say the fire was started deliberately as a targeted act of arson.
  • Straw was moved and placed in several places, and a number of fires were started in different locations around the farmyard.
Other details
  • Hundreds of thousands of euros of damage was caused to plant and machinery.
  • Cows and calves narrowly escaped because the wind blew the fire away from their shed.
  • The family is unaware of anyone having a grudge against them.
Investigation
  • Gardaí believe movements of people between 3am and 7am on 27 November 2021 are critical to the investigation.
  • Lorraine O'Neill asked people to check dashcams and CCTV for anything unusual in that window.
  • Anyone with information is asked to contact Tullamore Gardaí or Edenderry Garda Station.
  • The family and gardaí made a fresh public appeal on RTÉ's Crimecall in June 2023, after an earlier appeal aired in October of the previous year.
Charges
No arrest or charge has been reported in the case.
22 statements extracted from the articles
  • whereThe fire was at the farm of Lorraine and Eugene O'Neill in Clonbullogue. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereThe farm is the O'Neill family farm near Clonbullogue, Co Offaly. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenThe fire was started maliciously in the early hours of 27 November 2021. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenCCTV in the yard was cut at about 4.45am, and the family realised the buildings were on fire at 6.45am. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenThe arson attack happened in the early hours of 27 November 2021. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • causeThe fire was started deliberately. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • causeStraw was placed in several places to start further fires. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • causeGardaí say the fire was a targeted act of arson. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationThe family made a wider appeal for information ahead of Christmas. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationLorraine O'Neill asked people to check dashcams and CCTV between 3am and 7am on 27 November for anything unusual. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationAnyone with information is asked to contact Tullamore Gardaí or Edenderry Garda Station. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationGardaí believe local information holds the key to solving the case. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationGardaí believe movements of people between 3am and 7am on 27 November 2021 are critical to the investigation. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationThe family and gardaí made a fresh public appeal for help on RTÉ's Crimecall. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationAn earlier appeal for information on the fire was aired on Crimecall in October of the previous year. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherSheds and machinery at the family farm were destroyed in the fire. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherHundreds of thousands of euros of damage was caused to plant and machinery. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherCows and calves narrowly escaped because the wind blew the fire in a different direction from their shed. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe family is unaware of anyone having a grudge against them. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherHundreds of thousands of euros worth of damage was caused to plant and machinery. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherA number of fires had been started in different locations around the farmyard. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherStraw had been moved around and CCTV had been cut. (offalyexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 27 Jun2023
    Reportedoffalyexpress.ie, first report
    Gardai believe local information will solve mystery of Offaly farm fire

    Follow-up appeal on RTÉ's Crimecall programme. Detective Sergeant David Scahill says the fire was a targeted act of arson, and the family describes the fires and damage on the farm.

    victim, Lorraine O'Neill, irish (judged from name)Lorraine O'Neillvictim, Eugene O'Neill, irish (judged from name)Eugene O'Neill
  2. 27 Jun2023
    Reportedoffalyexpress.ie, follow-up
    Mother of Offaly All-Ireland hero makes new plea for information in relation to terrifying arson attack on family farm

    Renewed appeal by the mother, given in a June 2023 radio interview, which adds details such as CCTV in the yard being cut at about 4.45am, straw being placed in several spots around the property, and a request for dashcam and CCTV footage from nearby towns. The article gives no arrest or charge.

    victim, irish (judged from name)victim, Eugene O'Neill, irish (judged from name)Eugene O'Neill