Thursday 29 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. 7923Arson, criminal damage by fire · Co. Donegal · 27 Sep 2026

Trees damaged in arson attack at Castlefin's Secret Garden, Co Donegal

Trees in the Secret Garden at Porter's Lane, Castlefin, Co Donegal, were set on fire on Sunday evening, 27 September 2026, in an arson attack that also damaged bird nests. The fire was set beside St Mary's National School and houses, and the Fire Brigade attended while gardaí were informed. DonegalLive reported the incident on 28 September 2026, and the local Tidy Towns group said removing and replacing the trees will be costly. No arrest or charge has been reported, and the latest development is the Tidy Towns statement on the damage and costs.

  1. Reported28 Sep
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Trees in the Secret Garden were set on fire in an arson attack.
Where
The Secret Garden is at Porter's Lane beside St Mary's National School in Castlefin, Co Donegal.
When
The fire occurred on Sunday evening, 27 September 2026.
Cause
The damage was described as deliberate.
Investigation
  • The Fire Brigade attended the scene and gardaí were informed.
  • No arrest or charge is reported in the article.
Other details
  • The fire was set beside the school and houses.
  • Trees and bird nests were damaged.
  • The Tidy Towns group said removing and replacing the trees will be costly.
  • The area had suffered previous damage over the past 18 months, including broken plant pots, damaged plants and lights, and littering.
8 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatTrees in the Secret Garden were set on fire. (donegallive.ie)
  • whereThe Secret Garden is at Porter's Lane beside St. Mary's National School in Castlefin. (donegallive.ie)
  • whenThe fire occurred on Sunday evening. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationThe Fire Brigade attended the scene and gardaí were informed. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherThe fire was set beside the school and houses. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherTrees and bird nests were damaged. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherThe Tidy Towns group says removing and replacing the trees will be costly. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherThe area had previous damage over the past 18 months, including broken plant pots, damaged plants and lights, and littering. (donegallive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 28 Sep2026
    Reporteddonegallive.ie, first report
    Horror as 'disgraceful' arson attack damages Castlefin's Secret Garden

    First report of the incident. Adds the location, the fire response, the damage to trees and bird nests, the Tidy Towns statement on costs and previous damage in the area, and comments from Cllr Gary Doherty.