Man questioned over attack on tds constituency office

A man in his 30s has been questioned by gardaí in relation to an alleged arson attack on the constituency office of Fine Gael TD Michelle Mulherin on John Street (also known as Casement Street), Ballina.

It is understood that a small fire broke out at the office at around 7 p.m. last night (Tuesday, January 27). A man aged 39 was arrested and later released, gardaí have confirmed.

In a short statement, Deputy Mulherin said: “Gardaí are investigating an incident at my office in Ballina. Thankfully nobody was injured. I await the outcome of the garda investigation and will be making no further comment at this stage.”

The incident comes days after it was revealed Deputy Mulherin had made calls to a private phone number in Kenya from Leinster House. She confirmed yesterday (Tuesday) that she had repaid €2,000 to Oireachtas authorities. The calls, made between 2011 and 2013, were not private in nature, Deputy Mulherin said.