Appeal for witnesses to fatal blaze

GARDAÍ ARE continuing to appeal for witnesses to a suspected arson attack on a house in Newbridge, Co Kildare, last weekend in which a man was killed.

Michael Crowe (81) died after a fire engulfed his family home in Páirc Mhuire, Newbridge, early on Sunday. His wife Betty and son Thomas were injured.

Gardaí are treating the fire as suspicious, but have yet to make any arrests. They were yesterday appealing for witnesses who were in the area between midnight on Saturday and 6am on Sunday, or anyone who may have information that could assist in the investigation.

They are also investigating whether there was a link between the fire and an attack on the house at about 2am, some hours before the fire broke out, when paving stones were thrown through the front window.

The fire is understood to have broken out at the foot of the stairs inside the front door of the semi-detached house. Neighbours alerted emergency services. Four fire brigade units took almost three hours to bring the fire under control.

All three occupants of the house were taken to Naas General Hospital, where Mr Crowe died a short time later. Mrs Crowe, who is in her 70s, was described yesterday as being in a comfortable condition at the hospital, where she is being treated for injuries related to smoke inhalation. Thomas Crowe has been transferred to St James’s Hospital in Dublin where he is being treated for burns.