GARDAÍ are following “a definite line of enquiry”, according to Maurice Burns, the owner of Rathasker Stud near Naas which lost three sheds and 600 bales in a suspected arson attack on Friday evening (February 7th) at around 5.30pm.

Fortunately no people or horses were caught in the blaze. Having been alerted to the fire by a neighbour, Burns and his staff were quickly on the scene and managed to move all their stock - including 18 pregnant mares, to safety.

"It was a traumatic period, and we were pure lucky a neighbour spotted it when he did. I got down there within two minutes of him ringing me,” Burns told the Kildare Nationalist.

“The fire brigade were here from 6pm on Friday until 3.30am on Saturday morning, and were drawing the water from the canal to fight it.

“We lost 300 bales of hay and 300 bales of straw, three sheds and a horse box, but if it happened in the middle of the night we would’ve been in trouble.

“We got all the animals moved, they are a bit spooked but none of them got burned.

“We were unlucky to lose what we did, but it could have been a lot worse.

“We had great help from the neighbours. Martin Kinirons brought down his HyMac and teleporter and he was able to drag out all the burning bales, and Robert Brazil stacked them in the middle of the field to burn out.

“Three sheds in total collapsed, but what is gone can be replaced.

“This is the 10th such malicious fire in the last 18 months within a one-mile radius, but the guards are close to the source."

Business as usual

Covering season at Rathasker Stud will not be affected by the fire. The stud is home to three stallions - Bungle Inthejungle, Coulsty and Gregorian.

Burns told The Irish Field: "We have six yards on the farm and the fire took place in an old yard where we store fodder. It's an overflow yard. The covering sheds are not affected - it's business as usual."

Garda update

On Wednesday morning the Garda Press Office told The Irish Field that its investigations were continuing.

"The incident is believed to have occurred at approximately 5.25pm when a hay shed on the grounds went on fire.

"Gardaí and emergency services attended the scene and the fire was extinguished by the fire brigade.

"No injuries have been reported.

"The scene was preserved and a technical examination conducted. Investigations into the incident are ongoing.

"No arrests have been made at this time.

"Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to this incident to come forward.

"Gardaí are appealing for any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) who were driving on Rathasker Road between 4pm and 5.30pm on Friday evening to make this footage available to them."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Naas Garda Station on 045 884300, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.