Dog killed following fireworks attack in Athy

A MAN in his 60s was hospitalised in a Halloween arson attack in Townspark, Athy on Thursday (30 October) that left his house badly damaged by fire and his dog dead.

Fireworks were set off through his letterbox and the resulting blaze meant the sole occupant had to be rescued by the emergency services from an upstairs window, before being brought to Naas General Hospital.

“A council house was very badly damaged, and it will take a lot of money to fix,” said a local source.

“The owner had to be taken out by the emergency services through an upstairs window,” the source confirmed.

The injured party was discharged from hospital the following day 

“This morning (Friday), Gardaí in Naas responded to reports of an alleged incident in the Athy area,” said a Garda spokesperson.

“Following enquiries, members determined that the incident was a hoax, but no offences were disclosed.

“Gardaí responded to an incident of criminal damage by fire that occurred at approximately 1:20pm today, Friday, 31st of October 2025 in the Castle Park area of Athy.

“A man aged in his 60s was conveyed to Naas General Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries,” they confirmed.

Today (Monday) the daughter of the victim confirmed that he has been released from the hospital, and that his dog was killed in the incident.

“There have been no indications of who definitely did it, but there are names rattling around,” she said.

The day before this, a 15-year-old boy was also hospitalized for a hand injury when a firework he was holding went off in his hand.

The escalation of anti-social behaviour continued into Friday morning (31 October) when a hoax call to the emergency services saw a full deployment in the Woodstock Street area that brought a fleet of ambulances, the advanced paramedic unit, a full garda presence – including the air support unit – as we as fire services.

It is estimated the hoax call cost the taxpayer in the region of €50,000.

“Given the day that it was, this could’ve been highly costly to somebody else.

“They do have to be accountable.

“I’m praying for rain,” said the source on Friday evening.

“My dog is going ballistic at the moment. It’s like the Wild West here at the moment.

“The location of the fire is cordoned off at the moment. It is dreadful, isn’t it?

“This will be a considerable expense for the Council, and that’s not including all his personal belongings, and the family pet”.