Senior garda condemns station firebomb attack in Athboy

A senior garda has condemned the recent firebomb attack on Athboy Garda Station and appealed for anybody in the town who still has information to let the Gardai know. Inspector Alf Martyn said that the attack on the station in Athboy on 1st January last amounted to an attack not just on the law, but on the people of Athboy themselves. Gardai say that two hooded youths took part in the attack, one smashing a window and another throwing two petrol bombs in, one of which ignited and caused substantial smoke damage, at around 5.20am on New Year's Day. An alarm alerted a Garda patrol car to the fire and officers in the car were able to put out the blaze with a fire extinguisher. The station was cleaned up and opened as soon as possible once again to the public in the wake of the arson attempt. The area was searched, a technical and forensic examination took place and checkpoints were set up the following night to query motorists that may have been passing the area at the time. Inspector Martyn said that there was more traffic than usual in Athboy on that night as revellers returned from parties, and he has asked that anybody with information contact the incident room at Kells Garda Station on (046) 928 0820.