LAST UPDATE | 21 Dec 2022

GARDAÍ REMAIN AT the scene of a large fire in Limerick today which destroyed a number of businesses last night and left 15 jobs in peril.

The fire broke out shortly after 7pm yesterday at a large commercial premises housing a number of businesses, situated at Fenton’s Yard, Raheen, located off the R526 Limerick to Patrickswell road.

The building was almost completely gutted in the inferno which could be seen for a number of miles yesterday evening.

 Children’s Christmas presents that had been stored in one of the business holdings were also completely destroyed in the fire, sources said.

 Over a dozen fire engines and water tankers from Limerick City and County Fire Service and Rathkeale Fire Service, fought the blaze for four hours.

 Gardaí said there were no injuries.

 The owners of a car trading sales business based in the yard said they were not impacted by the blaze.

 Patrick O’Driscoll and Denis McMahon, co-owners of Empire Trade Car Sales, said they remained “open for business”.

 Mr McMahon said he noticed the fire taking hold of the building when he glanced at a CCTV security feed at his home showing the premises.

 “I just looked at the camera, I don’t know what I looked at it, and I could see the (premises) was gone up (in flames). I came in the road then straight away, I could see the flames coming through he roof, it is just a big mess,” Mr McMahon said.

 “I feel sorry for the (businesses) affected by it, we’ll help them as much as we can, we will all pull together, we are all in the one yard, so anything we can do to help we will.”

Mr O’Driscoll said when he arrived at the site around 8pm yesterday , “everywhere was up in flames”.

Hope no one was hurt, terrible #fire tonight in #raheen #Limerick pic.twitter.com/Tpb0fdDH7h

— Welshtramp 💙 💛 (@WelshTramp) December 20, 2022

“The fire brigade and Gardaí were here, our (premises) was ok, we came in to check that and help out, but there was nothing we could do really, it was just engulfed, up in flames.”

 “Empire is unaffected by this, we are helping the others out as much as we can, we are giving our back yard to (one of the businesses) to help get them out of a hole and keep their customers happy through the Christmas period, but in Empire Trade Sales we are unaffected and still trading.”

 “It’s terrible, about fifteen jobs gone, fifteen people at Christmas time, it’s hard.”

Fianna Fáil TD, Willie O’Dea, visited the site today and pledged to support any workers impacted by the fire.

 “Obviously, it can be summed up in one word – devastation. It’s a dreadful thing for the workers and their employers in the lead up to Christmas, fifteen people are without employment over the Christmas period,” said Mr O’Dea.

 “I just came out here to meet the lads because I know some of them and if they have any problems with social welfare or anything of that nature over the Christmas, I’ll be available to help them out.”

 “It’s a terrible tragedy, they are very hard-working people, and I want to give credit to Empire Trade Car Sales for providing facilities to one of the businesses affected so they can continue on.”

 “I’ve walked around it and it’s a very grim site and a real tragedy and it’ll take a lot to put it back together again, but hopefully the businesses here will find some way to continue in existence until the place is restored.”

 A garda spokesman said: “The scene is currently preserved pending examination later today.”