Garda probe into ‘exploding wood' left at Durrus pubs

By BRIAN MOORE

TWO local publicans and their customers in Durrus had an incredibly lucky escape when blocks of wood exploded in their fireplaces on Saturday night, April 1st.

The blocks, which were left outside their pubs, are thought to have had rounds of ammunition concealed inside them. 

‘I just picked the wood up and, thinking nothing of it, put it in the fire,’ Durrus publican John Ross told The Southern Star.  

‘It exploded, and luckily nobody was hurt. It just sent sparks and pieces of wood flying around the room. It could have been a lot worse.’ 

The second piece of wood, which was again placed into the fire at the second pub, also exploded, causing shock, but again – luckily – no injuries or damage. 

‘We called the gardaí immediately and then found out that the same thing had happened at another pub in the village,’  John Ross said. 

‘The gardaí are taking this very seriously, and I would ask anyone with information to contact them,’ he said.

He added that someone could have been badly hurt – or worse – by the incidents.

The blocks of wood were left outside Ross’s and Ó Súilleabháin’s pubs in the heart of the village. 

‘I found the wood outside our gate at the side of the pub. I just picked it up and added it to the firewood pile,’ John Ross said.

‘We can’t say for certain what caused the incidents in Durrus, as we are waiting for forensics to report back to us,’ Supt Brendan Fogarty told The Southern Star. 

‘Whether this was a prank or something more serious, at this stage, we don’t know. We are asking anyone with any information to contact Bantry Gardaí immediately.’

Anyone with information is asked to contact Bantry gardaí at 027 20860.