An investigation is under way into a suspected arson attack which caused extensive damage to a pharmacy in Co Meath.
Gardaí have confirmed they are investigating an alleged criminal damage incident in Oldcastle.
The pharmacy is owned by Donna McQuaide, who has been running it for over 20 years.
It is understood that an accelerant, believed to be petrol, was poured around the shop before being set alight. It is not believed any good were stolen.
The pharmacy adjoins the Oldcastle Court Hotel, whose owner had previously enquired with authorities about using it as an IPAS centre.
Last June the Department of Justice said it was no longer considering the hotel for accommodating International Protection Applicants, and today it confirmed this is the case again.
The community in Oldcastle has been left in both shock and anger, as Ms McQuaid’s premises has been destroyed.
The owner of the nearby vacant Gibney’s shop has offered it to Ms McQuaide and it is hoped that her pharmacy will reopen from there tomorrow.
People were out helping to clear McQuaid’s pharmacy, and get the new shop ready.
Local Sinn Féin TD Johnny Guirke said the fire at McQuaid's pharmacy "robbed a family of their ability to provide for themselves and their customers of a local, essential service they rely on daily".
He described Oldcastle as a great town and urged anyone with information on the incident to contact gardaí.
"This cowardly act has no place in our town and must be unequivocally rejected by everyone who lives in Oldcastle," Mr Guirke said.
Secretary of the Oldcastle Community Development Association Tracey Holsgrove, described the incident as "horrendous" and said that everyone in Oldcastle is "devastated".
"Donna is a good friend of mine, and she’s chair of our community development association.
"I felt physically sick that something like that could happen to someone I know well.
"She’s a good friend, a good pharmacist, and a really good community person," she said.
"If you’re ever organising a raffle for something, go into Donna and she’ll donate a prize, and it won’t be a small prize.
"Everyone knows her, I’ve seen her there at 11pm at night running in to get something for someone in the nursing home, or to drop something out to someone who needs it, particularly on bank holidays or on Christmas, she’s there on the end of the phone, she’s a really community-minded person," she added.
Gerry McDermott of nearby McDermott Menswear said that the incident was "not just an attack on Donna’s" but an "attack on all the businesses in the town".
He said that Ms McQuaide is a "vital part" of Oldcastle, and is particularly known for going out of her way to help the elderly.
"The people who have done this have no regard for the town of Oldcastle. No regard for the community or personal safety.
"There are people out there who know who have done this, and if they have any sense of humanity or any sense of wellbeing for other people, they should certainly stand behind the community.
"Donna will be back up and running tomorrow, next door in Gibney’s who’ve made sure that she’ll be able to get back up and running," he said.
"But her stock is destroyed, and it cannot be replaced overnight, so it’s going to be a loss."
Mr McDermott said incidents like this "will happen again" in Ireland "unless these people are stood up to".
Gardaí have appealed for anyone with information to come forward.
Anyone who may have CCTV or dashcam footage is asked to contact either Oldcastle Garda Station on 046-8541102, Kells Garda Station on 046-9280820 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.
