Gardaí issue appeal for information on arson attack that destroyed 40 straw bales near Cashel

Gardaí have appealed to the public for help in their investigation into an arson attack in which 40 round bales of straw were burned to a cinder in a field near Cashel late at night last week.

The large bales were set alight in a field belonging to farmer and agricultural contractor Sean O’Reilly at Ballinree, Cashel on Wednesday, August 9.

The blaze was so big and intense that the flames were visible from Cashel town five miles away.

A Cahir Garda Station spokesman said the bales were in the middle of the field and gardaí were alerted to the fire at approximately midnight.

He said they believe the fire was a criminal damage incident.

“There is nothing to suggest it was an accident,” he said noting that weather conditions were wet on the night.

He urged anyone who saw any suspicious activity in the Ballinree area that night to contact Cahir or Cashel Garda Stations.

Sean O’Reilly had sold the bales to a neighbour and had lined them up in the field ready to be collected.

The fire happened about 250 yards from his home and was first spotted by his wife. The family got an awful fright.

“It was such a blaze that the fire brigade and gardaí were able to see it five miles away in Cashel,” he pointed out.

He said it was lucky they saw the fire that late at night as it happened near main overhead ESB lines and a pylon. If the fire had been allowed to continue burning it could have spread to them, and caused a huge electricity outage and pose a considerable health & safety danger.

“It would have been deadly if they (the ESB lines) fell down,” said Sean, who went out in his loader that night and moved any bales situated near the ESB lines in case the fire spread to them.

While weather conditions were wet, the straw was very dry and the fire spread easily.

The bales destroyed in the blaze are estimated to be valued at €1,200.

Sean points out that there were also the cost caused to the emergency services, who he praised for their speedy reaction to the call out.

He reported the gardaí were at the scene within ten minutes and the fire brigade arrived very soon after. “I never saw anything like it,” he said.

Sean has condemned the arson attack on the bales as “highly irresponsible”.

He joined with the Gardaí in appealing to anyone who saw suspicious activity near the field that night or has any information that may assist the investigation to contact Cashel Garda Station at (062) 75840 or Cahir Garda Station at (052) 7445630.