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. 20631Criminal damage by fire (suspected arson) · Co. Longford · 15 Jun 2023

Suspected arson at Inter Cars garage in Longford town

On 15 June 2023, a fire damaged several cars at Inter Cars, a crash repair business on the Strokestown Road in Longford town, which gardaí are investigating as a suspected arson attack. Gardaí gave the time as 1.45am, while reporters said about 2am. No injuries were reported, and Longford fire services and gardaí stopped the blaze spreading to other cars and adjoining businesses. Garda forensic officers examined the scene, and detectives are looking into a possible motive and reviewing CCTV footage. As of the latest report on 21 June 2023, no arrests or charges had been made and the investigation was continuing.

  1. Reported15 Jun
    4 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
Several cars, up to half a dozen by some accounts, were damaged beyond repair in a fire at Inter Cars auto repairs.
Where
Inter Cars is a crash repair commercial premises just off the Strokestown Road in Longford town.
When
Gardaí said the fire occurred at 1.45am on 15 June 2023, while reporters said it happened at around 2am or just after 1:30am.
Cause
Gardaí described the incident as criminal damage by fire and are investigating it as a suspected arson attack.
Investigation
  • Garda forensic officers examined the scene.
  • Detectives are looking into a possible motive and reviewing CCTV footage from near the scene.
  • A garda investigation was launched and was still ongoing in the latest report on 21 June 2023.
Charges
No arrests have been made and no one has been charged.
Other details
  • No injuries have been reported.
  • Gardaí and fire services from Longford extinguished the fire and prevented it spreading to other cars and adjoining businesses.
  • Local councillors Gerry Warnock and Gerry Hagan condemned the attack, and Cllr Hagan urged anyone with information to come forward.
30 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatSeveral cars were damaged beyond repair. (longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatGardaí and fire services prevented the blaze spreading to other cars and adjoining businesses. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatUp to half a dozen cars were damaged in the blaze at Inter Cars auto repairs. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatGardaí are investigating a suspected arson attack at a Longford garage. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whereThe fire was at Inter Cars, a crash repair premises just off Longford town's Strokestown Road. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whereThe fire was at a garage in Longford town, close to the Strokestown Road. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe incident took place at Inter Cars, a crash repair commercial premises just off Longford town's Strokestown Road. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereThe incident took place at Inter Cars, a crash repair commercial premises on Strokestown Road, Longford town. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whenThe incident took place at around 2am. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whenGardaí said the fire occurred at a business property in Longford Town at 1.45am on 15 June 2023. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whenThe incident happened overnight, just after 1:30am according to the reporter. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenGardaí said the incident occurred at 1.45am on 15 June 2023. (irishmirror.ie, longfordleader.ie)
  • whenGardaí said the incident occurred at 1.45am on 15 June. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • causeGardaí described the incident as criminal damage by fire. (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeGardaí are investigating the incident as a suspected arson attack. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationGarda forensic officers were examining the scene. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationDetectives are looking into a possible motive for the attack. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationNo injuries have been reported and no arrests have been made. (longfordleader.ie, irishmirror.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationFire units from Longford and gardaí attended and extinguished the fire. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationA garda investigation was launched. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGarda forensic officers examined the scene. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationDetectives are reviewing CCTV footage from near the scene to identify those responsible. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGarda forensic officers were examining the scene, and detectives were looking at a possible motive. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationNo arrests have been made. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherLocal councillor Gerry Warnock condemned the attack. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherLongford Municipal District Cathaoirleach Cllr Gerry Hagan condemned the incident and urged anyone with information to come forward. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherGardaí and fire services from Longford prevented the blaze from spreading to other cars and adjoining businesses. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherLocal Cllr Gerry Warnock condemned the attack. (offalyexpress.ie, longfordleader.ie)
  • otherGardaí and fire services prevented the blaze from spreading to other cars and adjoining businesses. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherNo injuries have been reported. (longfordleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 20 Jun2023
    Reportedlongfordleader.ie, first report
    Garda continue to probe possible motive behind Longford garage arson attack

    First report of this incident. Adds the location (Inter Cars, Strokestown Road), the Garda time of 1.45am, the damage to several cars, the Garda forensic examination and motive inquiry, and comment from Cllr Gerry Warnock. No arrests reported.

  2. 16 Jun2023
    Reportedoffalyexpress.ie, follow-up
    Thousands of euro worth of damage caused in suspected arson attack at garage in the Midlands

    Adds the garda timing of 1.45am on 15 June, the forensic examination of the scene, the focus on a possible motive, and a local councillor's condemnation of the attack.

  3. 15 Jun2023
    Reportedirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Cars torched in suspected arson attack at garage in Longford

    Adds that up to half a dozen cars were damaged, the fire was put out by Longford fire units, forensic officers examined the scene, detectives are reviewing CCTV, and a local councillor condemned the attack. Gives the time as 1.45am per the garda statement and 'just after 1:30am' per the reporter, so the timing is inconsistent.

  4. 15 Jun2023
    Reportedlongfordleader.ie, follow-up
    BREAKING: Thousands of euro worth of damage caused in suspected Longford garage arson attack

    Adds that several cars were damaged beyond repair, that gardaí had prevented the fire spreading to other cars and adjoining businesses, that no injuries or arrests were reported, that forensic examination and a motive inquiry are under way, and that a local councillor condemned the attack. Gives the fire time as 1.45am in the garda statement, while the reporter says about 2am.