A HOUSE fire which destroyed the home of a young family is believed to have been started deliberately.
A woman and three children narrowly escaped their burning home after it was set alight by an unidentified person latte on Tuesday 14 September.
The alarm was raised at around 9.40pm, with the fire service and Gardaí arriving on the scene in St Laurent's Park in Drogheda shortly after.
A woman aged in her 30's and her three young children were inside the house when it was set on fire, but they managed to escape by jumping out the window as the fire took hold.
While the family were left shaken by the incident, they were assessed at the scene and thankfully did not require hospital treatment.
The fire was eventually brought under control by the fire services but there was 'considerable' damage done to the property, according to Gardaí.
Gardaí confirmed they are treating the fire as suspicious, likely a targeted arson attack.
Local TD, Sinn Féin deputy Imelda Munster, described the attack as "evil".
“It is evil in the extreme to put a mother and three young lives at risk and not to give a damn as to whether the family lived or died," she told The Journal.
She appealed to the public to come forward with any information relating to the incident in order to find the perpetrator.
According to witnesses, flames were first seen coming from the front door at around 9.40pm, and when neighbours rushed to the scene to help, the mother and her three sons, believed to be under the age of 12, were seen jumping from the first floor window.
The family had only recently moved into the house, and the attack is not believed to be linked with ongoing gang violence in the area, Gardaí say.
An appeal for witnesses has now been launched by Gardaí in Drogheda, with anyone with information which may assist the investigation urged to make themselves known to Gardaí.
Any witnesses have been asked to contact Gardaí in Drogheda Garda Station on 041 987 4200 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.
