A Waterford woman and her child have been forced to abandon their home after an arson attack.
Ms Sharon O'Keeffe (25) and her nine-year-old son had to flee their house in St Herblain Park, Kilcohan, in the city after her boyfriend's 1999 Renault Clio and her own 1994 Suzuki Swift were burnt out in her driveway.
The terrified mother grabbed her young son and ran out the back door to the safety of her next-door neighbours as the cars were parked close to the front door.
"I went to bed on Wednesday night and I woke up at four o'clock by first of all two bangs - two petrol bombs. I thought the house was on fire but it wasn't. When I came out the bedroom door, I saw through the glass on the front door that it was outside so I knew I had a couple of seconds to get the child from the bed and get out.
"Just as I grabbed him in my arms as we were standing in the hall, everything just went bang and the front windows shattered and we just ran out the back door. Stephen was hysterical."
The alleged arsonist is believed to be in his late 20s and known to gardaí. However, some residents are afraid to make complaints for fear of retaliation.
Ms O'Keeffe said yesterday, "It is ongoing for some time but I didn't realise how bad it was until other people came forward after my experience."