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. 16566Arson · Co. Limerick · 18 Jul 2024

Gardaí probe suspected arson at former Railway Hotel, Limerick City

Gardaí are investigating a suspected overnight arson attack at the former Railway Hotel on Parnell Street in Limerick City on Thursday 18 July 2024, when fire crews were called shortly after 10pm. Gardaí suspect the fire was started deliberately and classed the incident as criminal damage at a vacant premises, and the building has been boarded up and treated as a crime scene. The sources report no injuries, no arrest and no charge, so the latest development is that the Garda investigation is ongoing.

  1. Reported19 Jul
  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 suspected overnight arson attack at a building in Limerick City.
Where
The fire broke out at the former Railway Hotel on Parnell Street, a historic three-storey building next to Colbert Station in Limerick City.
When
Fire crews were called shortly after 10pm on Thursday 18 July 2024.
Cause
A Garda source said gardaí suspected arson was the cause of the blaze.
Investigation
  • Gardaí are working on the theory that the fire was possibly started maliciously.
  • The Garda Press Office classed the incident as criminal damage at a vacant premises on Parnell Street.
  • The building was boarded up and determined by gardaí to be a crime scene.
Other details
  • Three fire tenders were initially sent to the scene.
  • No injuries have been reported.
  • After the fire was put out, the building was searched and no persons were found inside.
  • Gardaí said they were aware of disinformation about the building's use, including social media claims that it was to be an accommodation centre for immigrants.
  • The former hotel had been derelict for about a decade and recently received planning permission for up to 116 student apartments.
Charges
No arrest or charge is reported in the sources.
12 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGardaí are investigating a suspected overnight arson attack at a building in Limerick City. (limerickpost.ie)
  • whereThe fire broke out at the former Railway Hotel on Parnell Street in Limerick City. (limerickpost.ie)
  • whenThe fire brigade was called shortly after 10pm on Thursday. (limerickpost.ie)
  • causeA Garda source said gardaí suspected arson was the cause of the blaze. (limerickpost.ie)
  • investigationGardaí are operating on the theory that the fire was possibly started maliciously. (limerickpost.ie)
  • investigationThe Garda Press Office described the incident as criminal damage at a vacant premises on Parnell Street on Thursday night, 18 July 2024. (limerickpost.ie)
  • investigationThe building was boarded up and determined by gardaí to be a crime scene. (limerickpost.ie)
  • otherThree fire tenders were initially sent to the scene. (limerickpost.ie)
  • otherNo injuries have been reported. (limerickpost.ie)
  • otherAfter the fire was put out, the building was searched and no persons were found inside. (limerickpost.ie)
  • otherGardaí said they were aware of disinformation about the use of the building. (limerickpost.ie)
  • otherThe former hotel had been derelict for the past decade and had recently received planning permission for up to 116 student apartments. (limerickpost.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 19 Jul2024
    Reportedlimerickpost.ie, first report
    Gardaí probing suspected 'arson' at former Limerick hotel earmarked for student accommodation

    First report of the fire. The building is a vacant former hotel earmarked for student accommodation, and the article says it was sealed as a crime scene. The Garda statement classes the incident as criminal damage.