ARSON has been ruled out as a cause of the fire which partly gutted a business centre in Bantry last year.

Gardaí confirmed that following their technical examination of the scene there was no foul play suspected in the blaze which broke out early on a Friday morning last September.

It comes as Cork County Council advertised for a contractor to undertake the demolition of parts of the Bantry E-centre at Rope Walk.

The facility is supported by the local authority, and usually provides hot desks, offices, and meeting rooms for remote workers and small start-up businesses, as well as other, more established companies.

Units 11, 12, and 13 were significantly damaged in the fire.

Gardaí have since confirmed that no foul play is suspected, and no offences have been reported.

In early December, the council suggested at a meeting that replacement units would not be ready for occupation until late 2027.

The future rebuilding of the units is a separate contract, and not included in the council’s recent advertisement for a demolition contractor.

There is no evidence of asbestos in the remains of the building, and would-be contractors have been advised that because the words will be happening next to a busy road, that a ‘higher level of care’ is needed. Other parts of the e-centre will continue to be used while the demolition takes place.