Gardaí Investigate Suspected Arson Attack On Cars Outside Arklow Family Home

A family of 11, including four children and a six-week-old newborn, were inside the property at the time

Wicklow gardaí are investigating after two cars were set alight outside a family home in Arklow in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

A Garda spokesperson confirmed the incident occurred at approximately 1.13am on November 10th, with two vehicles damaged by fire outside a residence in the town. 

CCTV footage from the property shows a figure in light-coloured clothing, with a face covering approaching the driveway at around 1.05am. The person appears to be carrying plastic bottles containing a flammable liquid, which they pour along the base of the windscreens of two cars parked in the driveway. The two cars are then ignited before the person sprints from the scene. 

A second video, filmed on a mobile phone and shared by the homeowner, shows the aftermath, with the fires extinguished and gardaí and fire service personnel at the scene. Photographs show extensive damage to the vehicles, with blackened and scorched bodywork.

The homeowner later appealed on Facebook for information about the person captured on CCTV, saying:

"Surely someone around Arklow knows this person, or someone coming back with smells of petrol off them?  They tried to burn all three cars for absolutely nothing."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Wicklow Garda Station.