Friday 30 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. 14629Criminal damage · Co. Laois · 7 Feb 2025

Gardaí appeal for witnesses after house fire in Mountrath, Laois

Gardaí in Portlaoise are investigating an incident of criminal damage at a residence in the Ard Erin housing estate in Mountrath, Co Laois, shortly after midnight on Friday 7 February 2025, when a set of kitchen curtains caught fire. A smoke alarm woke the residents and no injuries were reported. The articles name no victim or suspect and report no arrest or charge. Gardaí first appealed for information on 7 February, and the appeal for witnesses and camera footage was repeated in reports on 10 and 11 February, the latest development.

  1. Reported7 Feb
    3 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 in Portlaoise are investigating an incident of criminal damage in Mountrath, Co Laois, in which a set of kitchen curtains caught fire.
Where
The incident happened at a residence in the Ard Erin housing estate in Mountrath, Co Laois.
When
The incident happened shortly after midnight on Friday 7 February 2025.
Cause
Gardaí are investigating the cause of the fire.
Other details
  • A smoke alarm woke the house residents in time, and no injuries were reported.
  • The public can contact Portlaoise Garda Station on 057 8674100 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.
  • The first report, published on 7 February, describes criminal damage but does not mention a fire, while reports on 10 and 11 February describe the kitchen curtain fire.
Investigation
  • Gardaí are appealing to anyone who witnessed suspicious activity in the Ard Erin area around that time to come forward.
  • Gardaí ask anyone with CCTV, dashcam or doorbell camera footage that may help to contact them.
Charges
The articles name no victim or suspect and report no arrest or charge.
18 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGardaí in Portlaoise are investigating criminal damage in Mountrath. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatA set of kitchen curtains caught fire. (leinsterexpress.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatGardaí are investigating an incident of criminal damage. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereThe incident happened at a property in the Ard Erin estate in Mountrath. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereThe fire was at a residence in the Ard Erin housing estate in Mountrath, Co Laois. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereThe incident happened at a residence in the Ard Erin housing estate in Mountrath. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenThe incident happened on Friday 7 February 2025, shortly after midnight. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe fire happened shortly after midnight on Friday 7 February 2025. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe incident happened shortly after midnight on Friday 7 February 2025. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationGardaí are appealing to anyone who witnessed suspicious activity in the area around that time to come forward. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationGardaí want to hear from anyone with CCTV, dashcam or doorbell camera footage that may help. (leinsterexpress.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationGardaí are investigating the cause of the fire. (leinsterexpress.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationGardaí ask anyone in the Ard Erin area who may have witnessed suspicious activity to come forward. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationGardaí ask for CCTV, dashcam or doorbell camera footage that may help. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationGardaí are asking anyone in the Ard Erin area who may have witnessed suspicious activity to come forward. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe public can contact Portlaoise Garda Station or the Garda Confidential Line. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherA smoke alarm woke the house residents in time and no injuries were reported. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherA smoke alarm activation woke residents, and no injuries were reported. (offalyexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 11 Feb2025
    Reportedoffalyexpress.ie, first report
    Gardaí appeal for witnesses after house in the Midlands set on fire

    First report of the Mountrath fire, which gardaí are investigating as criminal damage. No existing case covers this incident.

  2. 10 Feb2025
    Reportedleinsterexpress.ie, follow-up
    Gardaí appeal for witnesses of Laois house fire

    Adds the Garda spokesperson's appeal for witnesses and camera footage, that a smoke alarm woke residents, that no injuries were reported, and the Portlaoise Garda Station and confidential line contact details.

  3. 7 Feb2025
    Reportedleinsterexpress.ie, follow-up
    Laois Gardaí appeal for information over criminal damage incident

    Press appeal for information. The article describes criminal damage but does not mention a fire, and it names no victim or suspect.