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Dublin woman (45) has lucky escape after home destroyed in petrol bomb attack

Latest arson attack in area as feuding grows

Today at 07:14

A 45-year-old woman had a lucky escape when her home was destroyed in a petrol bomb attack in west Dublin.

Sources say the woman, who was the only person in the property at the time, was not the target of the gang that carried out the attack.

It is just the latest arson incident in the area and local gardaí have increased armed patrols as a result.

It happened shortly after midnight last Thursday when a suspect was observed smashing a window before throwing the bomb into the house and fleeing.

Significant damage was caused to the property at Buirg An Rí Terrace in the Balgaddy area of Lucan. However, the woman was not injured and escaped the house.

The blaze was brought under control by Dublin Fire Brigade after it helped the woman out of the house, which was left gutted.

No arrests have been made by gardaí, who are investigating it as a “criminal damage by fire” incident.

Sources say detectives do not think it is linked to an ongoing criminal feud in the nearby Shancastle area of Dublin 22.

This bitter criminal dispute has led to a number of arson attacks to homes and cars this year as well as a number of serious assaults including stabbings, firearms incidents and attacks involving pipe bombs.

At the centre of the Shancastle feud is a close junior associate of notorious former crimelord John Gilligan, who a source said has been “running amok” for months.

“This individual, who is aged in his late 20s, is very much at the centre of a lot of violence that has broken out, including pipe-bomb attacks,” a source said.

Certain criminal families have aligned themselves with each other which makes the situation even more dangerous.”

Another key participant involved in the feud is subject to special security arrangements and had to be moved from one Dublin prison to another because of the threat against him.

Certain criminal families have aligned themselves with each other which makes the situation even more dangerous.”

Another key participant involved in the feud is subject to special security arrangements and had to be moved from one Dublin prison to another because of the threat against him.