Wednesday 28 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. 6996Criminal damage · Co. Limerick · 12 Nov 2023

Three men released without charge over Garryowen, Limerick criminal damage incident

On Sunday 12 November 2023, a house on Sarsfield Avenue in Garryowen, Co Limerick, was extensively damaged in a fire that broke out shortly before 5pm, which gardaí are treating as criminal damage by fire and a suspected arson attack, possibly involving a petrol bomb. The house was unoccupied and no injuries were reported. On 13 December 2023 gardaí arrested three men, all in their 30s, under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007. On 15 December 2023 gardaí said the three men had been released without charge and no file would be prepared for the DPP, and that investigations were ongoing.

  1. Reported12 Nov
    2 reports
  2. Arrested12 Nov
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Gardaí investigated a fire at a house in Garryowen, Co Limerick, treated as criminal damage by fire and a suspected arson attack.
Where
The house is on Sarsfield Avenue, Garryowen, and was extensively damaged in the blaze.
When
The fire broke out shortly before 5pm on Sunday 12 November 2023.
Cause
Gardaí suspected the fire was started maliciously.
Weapon
Reliable sources said a petrol bomb may have been used.
Other details
  • The house was unoccupied, no injuries were reported, and a neighbouring property was believed to have been damaged by smoke.
  • Three units of Limerick City and County Fire and Rescue Service attended, and the scene was sealed off for a Garda technical examination.
  • The three men were detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007, at Garda stations in the south west.
Investigation
  • Gardaí said there were no reports of criminal damage before the evening fire, while a local source said windows had been smashed at the property in recent days.
  • Anyone with information is asked to contact Henry Street Garda station or the Garda Confidential Line.
  • On 13 December 2023 gardaí arrested three men, all in their 30s, as part of the investigation.
  • Garda investigations were ongoing as of 15 December 2023.
Charges
The three men were released without charge, and no file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions, as announced on 15 December 2023.
31 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGardaí were investigating an incident of criminal damage by fire at a house in Garryowen on Sunday 12 November. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe house was extensively damaged in the fire. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatA criminal damage incident occurred at a property in Garryowen, Co Limerick. (garda.ie)
  • whereThe incident occurred at a property in Garryowen, Co Limerick. (garda.ie)
  • whereThe house is on Sarsfield Avenue, Garryowen, and was extensively damaged in the blaze. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe fire was at a house on Sarsfield Avenue in Garryowen. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe incident occurred on Sunday 12 November 2023. (garda.ie)
  • whenThe fire occurred shortly before 5pm on the Sunday. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe fire broke out at around 5pm on Sunday. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeReliable sources said gardaí suspected the fire had been started maliciously. (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeReliable sources said a petrol bomb may have been used. (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeGardaí suspect the fire was likely started maliciously. (irishtimes.com)
  • weaponA petrol bomb may have been used. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí arrested three men as part of an investigation into the criminal damage incident. (garda.ie)
  • investigationThe three men were arrested on the day the article was issued. (garda.ie)
  • investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (garda.ie)
  • investigationGardaí said there were no reports of criminal damage before the evening fire. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe scene was sealed off for a Garda technical examination to determine the cause of the blaze. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGarda enquiries into the suspected arson attack were ongoing. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe scene was sealed off so gardaí could carry out a technical examination to determine the cause. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí described the fire as an incident of criminal damage by fire under investigation. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationAnyone with information about the fire is asked to contact Henry Street Garda station or the Garda Confidential Line. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThree men were arrested on Wednesday 13 December 2023 and detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007. (garda.ie)
  • otherAll three men are detained at Garda stations in the south west under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007. (garda.ie)
  • otherThe house was unoccupied and no injuries were reported. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherA neighbouring property was believed to have been damaged by smoke from the fire. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherA local source said windows had been smashed at the property in recent days. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe house was unoccupied at the time and no injuries were reported. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherA neighbouring property is believed to have been damaged by smoke from the fire. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThree units of the Limerick City and County Fire and Rescue Service attended the scene. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe three men were released without charge and no file will be prepared for the DPP. (garda.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 1 Dec2023
    Othergarda.ie, first report
    Update: Arrests for Criminal Damage incident Garryowen, Co. Limerick. 12th November, 2023.

    Update on garda.ie (issued 15 December 2023): the three men arrested on 13 December 2023 were released without charge, no file will go to the DPP, and investigations continue. No matching existing case was found.

    suspect, 30s, malesuspect, 30s, malesuspect, 30s, male
  2. 13 Nov2023
    Reportedirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Gardaí investigating fire at Limerick city house where man died recently

    Describes a fire at an unoccupied house on Sarsfield Avenue, Garryowen, on Sunday around 5pm, treated as suspected arson. It does not mention arrests. The death of Ger Curtin in November is a separate incident and is not included.

  3. 12 Nov2023
    Reportedirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Gardai investigating 'arson attack' on Limerick house where criminal found dead

    Identifies the property as a house at Sarsfield Avenue, describes the fire as a suspected arson attack, says the house was unoccupied with no injuries, and reports that gardaí suspected a petrol bomb may have been used. No arrests are mentioned.

  4. 12 Nov2023
    Arrestedgarda.ie, follow-up
    Three Men Arrested - Criminal Damage Incident in Garryowen, Co.Limerick - 12th November 2023

    Garda press release, issue date 13 December 2023, reporting that three men in their 30s were arrested earlier that day and detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007. The existing case records the same three men as released without charge.

    suspect, 30s, malesuspect, 30s, malesuspect, 30s, male