Extra fire brigade personnel had to be drafted into Limerick city on Monday night to help extinguish 19 fires as unruly mobs attacked two firefighters with a glass bottle and an iron bar in two incidents.
Chief fire officer Michael Ryan put the cost of bringing in the extra personnel at about €10,000. Gardaí are investigating events surrounding “bonfire night” on May Eve – a long-standing annual tradition in the city.
As the city’s fire and rescue service dealt with 12 different bonfires, back-up units were called in to fight seven other blazes at various locations. In total some 40 firefighters were deployed from Limerick city, Cappamore and Rathkeale, and from Shannon in Co Clare and Newport, Co Tipperary.
Ger O’Shaughnessy of Rathkeale fire station was struck in the face by a glass bottle as he tackled a bonfire on Kilmurray Road, Garryowen, at about 9pm. “He’s sore, but we wish him a speedy recovery. He got three stitches to his face,” said Mr Ryan. Another firefighter from Shannon sustained minor injuries when he was hit by an iron bar as he tackled a fire at the same spot hours later.
Mr Ryan said: “We received assistance from neighbouring fire brigades for which we are very grateful.”
Meanwhile, the Irish Fire and Emergency Services Association has called for "proper compensation for fire officers who are injured on duty, like the Garda" has.
