Dozens of firefighters tackle major blaze at former Europa hotel

Gardai are investigating whether a major fire at a landmark east Meath hotel this week was started maliciously. The owner of the former Europa Hotel at Colpe Cross, between Julianstown and Drogheda, Mr Hugh Curran, confirmed he expected it to have to be demolished as a result of the blaze. In 1987 the hotel, then known as the Rossnaree Hotel, made national headlines when two men were shot dead there as part of a feud between the INLA and IPLO. At one point, 20 firefighters from Louth and Meath were fighting the major outbreak, which was spotted at around 9.20pm on Sunday night. Parts of the property were still ablaze well into Monday morning. The fire was initally tackled by fire crews from Drogheda and Dunleer using eight appliances. Assistance was also provided by fire crews from Navan and Ashbourne. The point at which the fire began remains under investigation but may have been a ballroom. The 25-bedroom hotel on the N1 on the southern outskirts of Drogheda has been vacant for about a year. According to the assistant chief fire officer for Meath, Padriag " Longaigh: "There has been a significant amount of damage to the rear of the building and part of the roof has collapsed." The cause of the blaze is being investigated by Gardai from Laytown. Garda Superintendent Jim Cannon confirmed: "Our work will include looking at whether this blaze began maliciously." Owner Hugh Curran confirmed that he now expects the hotel to have to be demolished. He recently secured planning permission to knock the former hotel down and build a retirement village, nursing and new hotel on the site. Fire crews from Navan and Ashbourne were helping to damp down the remaining hotspots in the building on Monday morning amidst concerns for its safety and stability. Gardai have been called on a number of occasions to deal with people trespassing on the site in recent months.