Family lucky to be alive after ‘reckless’ Finglas petrol bomb attack as wrong target probe launched after 5 hospitalised

Brave firefighters rescued one person from inside the burning building
AN INNOCENT family are lucky to be alive after their Dublin home was petrol bombed last night in a shocking arson attack.

Cops are now investigating the incident after a woman and teen boy suffered serious injuries at a property on Creston Avenue, north Dublin.

We understand a petrol bomb was thrown through a window at the rear of the building.

It’s understood the boy suffered a broken leg after he jumped from a window after a fire swept through their property.

The woman and teenager are being treated in hospital for their injuries.

Another woman, along with two teenage girls, are also being treated in hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The main line of inquiry is that the home was targeted in a case of mistaken identity as part of an ongoing traveller feud between two traveller families from the north Dublin area who have no connection whatsoever to this innocent family.

One source said: “The family who suffered serious injuries in this reckless attack are completely innocent.

“They have no links to crime and the suspicion is that the perpetrators targeted the wrong home.

“Unfortunately this type of attack is happening all the time in towns across Ireland.

“Thankfully no one has lost their lives in this attack.”

Cops and emergency services responded to a report of a fire at Creston Avenue, Finglas, at around 12:45am.

Dublin Fire Brigade said in a statement firefighters and paramedics from Finglas, Phibsborough and Blanchardstown to the “well developed fire”.

They said that specialist units rushed to the scene, including a water tanker, turntable ladder and a logistics van.

One person was rescued by firefighters in breathing apparatus and treated by emergency services at scene.

Six ambulances from both Dublin Fire Brigade and the National Ambulance Service also attended the horrific blaze.

‘APPALLING INCIDENT’

Local Sinn Fein TD Dessie Ellis believes it’s a “miracle” no one was killed in the incident.

He also told how Gardai in Finglas could have been investigating a similar incident to the arson attack in Edenderry last month in which Tadgh Farrell, 4 and his grandaunt Mary Holt, 60, died after an arson attack.

Mr Ellis said: “It is only through the grace of God that we aren’t dealing with another incident similar to the one in Edenderry last month.

“This was an appalling incident in which innocent lives could have been lost.

“My sympathies are with the family involved in this terrible incident.

“I would encourage anyone with the slightest bit of information on who was responsible to contact the Gardai.”

DRUG FEUD

We also spoke to a local resident in the area, who added: “This is all about two families fighting over drugs and other matters.

“That poor family who had to jump from windows has nothing to do with anything.

“People in this area just want to live their lives in peace.”

Following the incident, video footage of the blaze was widely shared on social media.

In one clip, residents can be heard screaming as the property became engulfed in flames.

FRESH EVIDENCE

And Gardai are also aware of a WhatsApp voice message referring to the incident by a man who claims he was the intended target.

They are also aware of another message on social media in which another man denied any involvement in the incident.

Gardai are conducting door to door inquiries today.

Officers in Finglas are trying to establish how many individuals were involved in the arson attack.

We also understand a man connected to the feud was stabbed last summer.

URGENT APPEAL

Dublin Fire Brigade handed over the scene to gardai at 4am this morning and they have preserved the scene for technical examination.

They are urgently appealing for witnesses who might have seen anything suspicious in the area between midnight and 1am last night.

A spokesperson said: “Gardaí are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed this incident, or noticed anything suspicious in the Creston area between midnight and 1:00am this morning, Wednesday 31st December.

“Any persons who may have video footage from the area between those times (including CCTV and dash cam) are asked to make this footage available to investigating Gardaí.

“Anyone with any information is asked to contact Finglas Garda Station on 01 666 7500, the Garda confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.”