Clondalkin community in shock after 'depraved' attack on woman who was set on fire at home

THE “SENSE OF depravity” shown in an attack on a woman, where she was set on fire at a house, has shocked the Clondalkin community.

The woman was hospitalised with serious burn injuries following the incident in Oak Downs yesterday morning.

It’s understood the assailant called to the door of the residence not long after 10am and sprayed the woman with an accelerant before lighting her on fire.

Sinn Féin Councillor William Carey is the chairperson of the local residents group. He told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland that the area is in shock.

“It was a quiet morning … nobody expected anything like this to be happening in our area. It’s quite an idyllic type of estate,” he said.

They are shocked at “the level of violence to be inflicted on another human being in this manner”.

“To set a person alight, there’s a lot of planning, a lot of thought that went into what they were doing,” he said.

“I view this as an attempted murder.”

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A man who was also in the home at the time suffered injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening. 

He was also taken to hospital.

Asked if people in the area are frightened after the attack, Carey said they are.

“They’re asking themselves: If an incident like this can happen to one individual, what does that say for the rest of us living close by?”

Carey lives less than 150 metres away from the house where the attack happened.

He added that in the time frame of the attack, teachers at the local creche were bringing children to the park. “This is what they almost passed by.”

No arrests have been made. 

An incident room has been established in Clondalkin Garda Station and gardaí are appealing to any witnesses to contact them.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Clondalkin Garda Station on (01) 666 7600, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.

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