Two men arrested as Gardaí probe fire at Drogheda IPAS accommodation

Two men in their 20s have been arrested by An Garda Síochána as part of an investigation into a deliberately lit fire at an IPAS residential facility in Drogheda.

The blaze broke out on Friday 31st October at about 8.15pm at the IPAS centre on George’s Street in Drogheda, which was housing 28 people at the time.

Fire‑and‑rescue crews evacuated the building and rescued at least five people from the top floor, including four children and a baby.

Initial reports suggested the fire may have started when fireworks were thrown into the building. However, Gardaí now believe it was a deliberate act, with CCTV and technical examinations indicating that fuel was poured onto a stairwell and ignited, trapping occupants.

The first arrest occurred on Wednesday night, 5th November, when a man in his 20s was taken into custody for alleged offences under the Criminal Damage Act 1991. He is being held under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a Garda station in Co. Louth. The second individual, also in his 20s, was arrested Thursday morning, 6 November, on similar alleged offences and is likewise detained under Section 4.

Gardaí stress that investigations are ongoing and are treating the incident as extremely dangerous, given the involvement of vulnerable children and families.

Anyone who was in the George’s Street area of Drogheda between 7.30pm and 8.20pm on 31 October, or who has relevant camera footage or other information, is asked to contact Drogheda Garda Station on 041 987 4200, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station