Show summary Hide summary
Seven houses in Fosterstown, Swords used by Ryanair staff were targeted in an apparent arson attack, the airline and emergency services have confirmed. The incident, which left residents shaken but unharmed, is now the subject of a Garda investigation.
What happened
Rubbish wheelie bins were deliberately set alight and placed against the front doors of seven rented properties on Monday evening, according to statements from the carrier. The homes are occupied by a mix of Irish and EU employees who work across Ryanair’s inflight, engineering and Swords head office teams.
Photos show Rose of Tralee escorts during bootcamp drills
Where to stay: eight coastal escapes across Ireland
Response from Ryanair and emergency crews
Ryanair strongly condemned those responsible and described the incident as a criminal attack on employees’ homes. The airline thanked An Garda Síochána and the Dublin Fire Brigade for their prompt response, which it said limited the damage to the properties.
No employees were physically hurt, Ryanair added, though some were left understandably unnerved by the events. The company said it is cooperating with Gardaí as inquiries continue.
Official investigation and local reporting
Gardaí confirmed they attended the scene in the early hours of Tuesday, June 23, and that the local fire service extinguished the flames. No injuries were reported at the time and investigations are ongoing, the force said.
Local journalist Barry Whyte posted a social media update about the incident on June 23, noting the placement and ignition of bins outside the houses. Fingal County Council has been approached for comment.
Community impact
The carrier highlighted its role as a major employer in the Swords area and said it was difficult to understand what the perpetrators hoped to achieve by targeting workers’ homes. Residents and staff remain concerned while investigators work to establish the full circumstances.
