Arson suspected at Kildare stud

GARDAÍ are following “a definite line of enquiry”, according to Maurice Burns, the owner of Rathasker Stud near Naas which lost three sheds and 600 bales in a suspected arson attack on Friday evening (7 February) at around 5.25pm.

“It was a traumatic period, and we were pure lucky a neighbour spotted it when he did, and I got down there within two minutes of him ringing me,” said Maurice.

“The Fire Brigade were here from 6pm on Friday until 3.30am on Saturday morning, and were drawing the water from the canal to fight it.

“We lost 300 bales of hay and 300 bales of straw, three sheds and a horse box, but if it happened in the middle of the night we would’ve been in trouble.

“We got all the animals moved, they are a bit spooked but none of them got burned.

“We were unlucky to lose what we did, but it could have been a lot worse.

“We had great help from the neighbours. Martin Kinirons brought down his HyMac and teleporter and he was able to drag out all the burning bales, and Robert Brazil stacked them in the middle of the field to burn out.

“Three sheds in total collapsed, but what is gone can be replaced.

“This is the 10th such malicious fire in the last 18 months within a one-mile radius, but the guards are close to the source."

Anyone with information or camera footage who was driving in the area between 4pm-5.30pm on Friday is asked to contact Naas Garda Station on 045 884300.