Garda forensic experts were examining a factory in Cork yesterday which was destroyed by fire following a break-in. Gardai believe the fire may have been started maliciously.
The fire occurred at Keytech factory at the Sunbeam industrial complex, where 100 people are employed. It was first noticed in the early hours of yesterday. An estimated £1 million damage was caused to the facility, which manufactures parts for electronic equipment. The company has been operating in Cork for seven years and there is now uncertainty over the future of the 100 jobs.
It took five units of Cork Fire Brigade to bring the fire under control and firefighters were still at the scene up to lunchtime yesterday.
Keytech managers from the company's Limerick headquarters travelled to Cork yesterday to assess the damage and to determine whether production could be resumed at another facility.