The Gardai in Limerick said yesterday there was no evidence of sabotage in a fire which caused an estimated £1 million worth of damage to a carpet warehouse on the main Limerick-Shannon road.
A motorist raised the alarm at 10 p.m. on Sunday after seeing smoke coming from the Fortune Flooring & Bedding centre. Seven units of the fire brigade from Limerick city and county and Shannon fought the blaze until the early hours of the morning. All the contents were destroyed, and the building, just two years old, will have to be demolished.
Mr Liam Fortune, the company's managing director, said: "We had a very heavy consignment of carpets and furniture in preparation for the major sale due to start this week." He added that he would do everything possible to rebuild the premises and save the 22 jobs at the warehouse.