Ireland Gardaí investigate blaze at vacant Railway Hotel, Limerick
On Thursday night, 18 July 2024, a fire broke out at the former Railway Hotel on Parnell Street in Limerick, a vacant listed building that had just begun renovations. Fire services responded shortly after 10pm, according to the Irish Times, or at around 10.30pm, according to the Irish Mirror, and brought the fire under control with no injuries reported. Gardaí are investigating the fire as suspected criminal damage and are operating on the theory that it was possibly started maliciously. Gardaí said they were aware of social media disinformation claiming the building was earmarked for asylum seekers, and the Department of Integration said it had received no offer of accommodation there. As of reporting on 19 July 2024, no arrest or charge had been reported.
- Reported19 Jul
2 reports - Arrested
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A vacant historic building that had just begun renovations was set alight.
- Where
- The fire was at the former Railway Hotel on Parnell Street in Limerick, directly across from Colbert Station.
- The building is a listed property dating from 1871 and has been derelict for about a decade.
- When
- The fire happened on Thursday night, 18 July 2024, at shortly after 10pm according to the Irish Times and at around 10.30pm according to the Irish Mirror.
- Cause
- Gardaí are operating on the theory that the fire was possibly started maliciously.
- Investigation
- Gardaí are investigating the fire as suspected criminal damage.
- Other details
- Fire crews brought the fire under control and no injuries were reported.
- The building was bought last March for a guide price of €1.75 million by a buyer believed to be from Co Tipperary.
- Earlier in July 2024 the building received planning permission for up to 116 student apartments.
- Gardaí said they were aware of disinformation on social media claiming the building was earmarked as an accommodation centre for asylum seekers.
- The Department of Integration said it had received no offer of accommodation for people seeking international protection at the property.
21 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA vacant historic building in Limerick that had just begun renovations was set alight. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe fire was at the former Railway Hotel on Parnell Street in Limerick. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe building is a listed property dating from 1871. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe fire was at the Railway Hotel on Parnell Street in Limerick, directly across from Colbert Station. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenFire services responded to the blaze shortly after 10pm. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe incident occurred on Thursday night, 18 July 2024. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe fire happened at around 10.30pm on Thursday night. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeGardaí are operating on the theory that the fire was possibly started maliciously. (irishtimes.com)
- causeGardaí are treating the fire as suspected criminal damage. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí are investigating the fire as criminal damage. (irishtimes.com)
- otherGardaí said they were aware of disinformation on social media claiming the building was earmarked as an accommodation centre for asylum seekers. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe fire was brought under control by fire services. (irishtimes.com)
- otherNo injuries have been reported. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe building has been derelict for the past decade. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe building received planning permission earlier in July 2024 for up to 116 student apartments. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe building was bought last March for a guide price of €1.75 million by a buyer believed to be from Co Tipperary. (irishtimes.com)
- otherFire crews brought the fire under control. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherNo injuries were reported. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe building had been granted planning permission for student accommodation. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherGardaí reported misinformation and rumour about the use of the building after reports it was earmarked for refugees. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe Department of Integration said it had received no offer of accommodation for people seeking international protection at the property. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 19 Jul2024Gardai investigate after blaze at Limerick site marked for student beds
Initial report of the fire. Adds that no injuries were reported, that the building had recently been granted planning permission for student accommodation, and that gardaí have referred to misinformation about the building's intended use.
- 19 Jul2024Suspected arson attack on Limerick student building after ‘disinformation and rumour’ about asylum seekers
First report of the incident. Gardaí say the fire was possibly started maliciously. The article also covers disinformation online that the building was earmarked for asylum seekers.