Arson attack sparks safety fears at Willow Park estate
The concrete blocks placed by the county coucil between Willow Park and Carrigbrook estates
GARDAÍ are investigating an arson attack on a car at a housing estate in Carlow town on Saturday night, just days after concrete blocks were installed to prevent unauthorised vehicle access between two neighbouring estates.
An Garda Síochána confirmed that they received a report of the incident at Willow Park housing estate at approximately 11.15pm on Saturday 9 August and responded immediately. Gardaí have obtained CCTV footage of the incident, which is currently under review as part of the investigation.
They are appealing for witnesses to come forward with any information.
can confirm it has seen footage of the incident ‒ a car ablaze at approximately 11.14pm, a short while after it was allegedly set alight.
According to an anonymous email on behalf of ‘Willow Park residents’ received by this newspaper, unknown perpetrators set fire to a car parked just a metre from a house by placing rags soaked in petrol on the rear wheels. The residents allege that the fire spread quickly, causing a tyre to explode, with the rear of the vehicle becoming engulfed in flames.
The email went on to say that neighbours extinguished the fire before the fire brigade arrived and that gardaí secured the area and evidence before the car was towed away.
Another anonymous resident who spoke with described how “two young fellas lit a rag and set a car on fire”. The resident claimed the incident was an act of intimidation, stating: “They’re intimidating people here now, which is not on.”
The arson attack comes after Carlow Co Council placed several large concrete blocks in the contested passageway between Willow Park and Carrigbrook estates on Thursday 8 August, between approximately 7am and 8am.
The council confirmed to that “a of number of Kelly blocks were installed and a vandalised gate that was deemed dangerous was removed”.
As reported by last week, tensions had escalated after a steel gate separating the two estates was destroyed by a black SUV ramming it twice at full speed, followed by individuals using an angle grinder to remove the remaining structure. It is not known if these incidents of anti-social behaviour are linked to Saturday’s arson attack.
The gate, originally installed as an emergency access point during Willow Park’s construction, had been keeping unauthorised vehicles from using the passage as a through-road. However, on Monday 28 July, it was violently rammed, damaging it beyond use.
Days later, on Sunday 3 August, individuals returned with an angle grinder and completely removed the remaining steel structure. One person on an electric scrambler reportedly videoed the destruction while saying to the camera: “You wanted your f**king gate, here’s your f**king gate, now.”
Since the gate’s removal, residents reported vehicles travelling at high speed through the area, creating safety concerns, particularly for children playing on nearby green areas.
In their latest email, residents expressed gratitude for the installation of the concrete blocks by Carlow Co Council, claiming ‘the peace that has been restored to the estates is indescribable’ and that parents can finally feel secure allowing their children to play in the estate.
However, the same email alleges that the arson incident represents ‘a clear signal to us that we are dealing with a group of individuals attempting to intimidate the local community and take control over public order in this part of Carlow’.
The garda investigation into Saturday’s arson attack is ongoing.
