The arson attack on a jail officer’s residence in County Meath yesterday night is being looked into.
The officer works in an intelligence and operations section that combats organised crime within prisons.
His house had a window shattered, and something incendiary, like a petrol bomb, was thrown in.
There were no reported injuries, however the guy and his spouse were at home at the time.
Gardaà believe there may be a connection between the man’s job in the jails and the fire attack.
After being found in possession of narcotics and a phone, a prominent member of an organised criminal group that traffics in illegal goods was sent to a separate jail unit.
The incident has been denounced by the Prison Officers’ Association (POA), which called it “cowardly,” “extremely sinister in nature,” and “could have led to loss of life.”
It was described as “a reckless and unacceptable act of violence that could have had very tragic consequences” by Justice Minister Helen McEntee.
“Nobody’s home should ever be targeted in this, or in any other way. Last year I increased from seven to 12 years the maximum prison sentence for assaulting or threatening a peace officer, which includes prison officers or members of An Garda SÃochána, and under the Criminal Damage Act 1991, the offence of arson can carry a sentence of up to life in prison,” she said in a statement, reports RTE.
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