LAST UPDATE | 2 Sep

GARDAÍ IN CORK are investigating two serious events in the north side of the city overnight including a petrol bomb attack at a pub and an incident where an explosive device was thrown at a house.

Several homes in Cork city were evacuated overnight after a potentially explosive device was thrown at a house.

Up to forty residents had to leave their homes in Ballyvolane in north Cork city until the device was made safe shortly after 3am.

Gardaí responded to a call that a suspected hand grenade was thrown in the front garden of a house in the Meadow Park area of Ballyvolane.

A Defence Forces bomb disposals team attended the scene following a request for assistance from gardaí in relation to a suspected explosive device found in the area.

The scene has been examined and the incident is under investigation. No injuries occurred and no damage was caused to the house.

The incident arose after gardaí responded to reports of the discharge of a firearm at a location in Ballyvolane shortly after midnight.

A cordon was put in place for the security and protection of residents in the area, and following an assessment of the device the team “conducted a controlled explosion on site”, according to the Defence Forces.

The area has since been reopened and residents have been allowed to return to their properties.

Gardaí said its investigations remain ongoing into the incident.

Petrol bomb

In a completely separate incident earlier in the night, a man in his 30s was arrested after an incident of criminal damage at a pub on Ballincollie Road, Ballyvolane.

A man arrived at Murphy’s Rock pub on the Ballincollie Road in Ballyvolane shortly before 11pm yesterday and threw a petrol bomb at the premises.

Units of Cork City Fire Brigade attended at the scene and made the area safe. A man in his thirties was arrested in relation to the attack. He remains in garda custody in Cork city.

The pub did not sustain major damage and no injuries were reported. It is understood that the perpetrator had earlier arrived at the pub but left after he exchanged words with another person.

He is currently detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act 1939 at a Garda Station in Cork.

With additional reporting by Olivia Kelleher