Longford residents awoken from house by neighbours during arson attack on property

Gardaí are investigating a suspected arson attack after a vehicle was set alight near a house in Longford town while the two occupants, who were fortunate to escape uninjured, were asleep inside the residence.

The incident occurred in the Dun Darrach housing estate shortly after 12-midnight on Sunday morning.

The small hatchback car was parked outside the house at the time and it is believed that the offenders were monitoring the residence and they waited until the occupants were asleep.

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It is understood the alarm was raised by neighbours who observed the vehicle on fire and they quickly notified the two occupants and the neighbours managed to extinguish the fire.

The blaze was in close vicinity to the house and it is understood onlookers commented that it could easily have spread to the house but fortunately on this occasion it did not.

The vehicle has been technically examined by Gardaí forensic officers who were looking to ascertain if there was any DNA evidence left behind and to verify how the car was set alight.

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A Garda spokesman said, “An Garda Síochána responded to reports of criminal damage to a vehicle on Dublin road, Co. Longford just past midnight on April 19.

"This investigation is ongoing."