The dozens of arson attacks on council homes last year represents a “real ratcheting up of violence” that is causing “mayhem” in working class communities, a journalist has said.  

Last year, there were 50 arson attacks on council properties, according to new data released to the Irish Times. 

The paper contacted the 31 local authorities in the Republic, of which 14 said they had recorded an arson attack on a council property in the past five years. 

Since 2020, there have been 113 recorded incidents; however, journalist Kitty Holland said the figure of 50 attacks in 2025 means the attacks have “really ratcheted up” in recent months. 

“There's a feeling that [they have replaced] drive-by shootings or where people would throw rocks into people's windows - that kind of thing - to kind of intimidate them,” she explained on The Claire Byrne Show. 

“It's reached new levels now of violence which destroys homes and also are such a huge event in the community as well.” 

Ms Holland noted that many arson attacks damage only property, not people, there have been a number where there have been fatal consequences. 

“We saw it most devastatingly there last year in Edenderry in County Offaly, where a woman and her grandnephew died in an arson attack,” she said. 

“It's to intimidate the whole family and the intimidation then spreads to communities. 

“So, communities are feeling very under threat and under siege by what's happening.” 

Despite this, Ms Holland feels that officials often do not treat arson attacks with the seriousness they merit. 

“If there's a shooting and a murder, there's a death there and that's a really serious crime because someone has lost their life,” she said. 

“A lot of resources are then thrown at that in terms of Garda resources. 

“But I got on to all the local authorities, only 24 came back to me and only 14 are actually tracking it.

“Potentially, it’s just not being taken as seriously as shootings.”

Property after suspected arson attack in Kildare. Picture by: Newstalk

Ms Holland said arson attacks are causing “mayhem” in working class communities, but the political class in Leinster House has yet to wake up the problem. 

“These are generally communities of deprivation who are already vulnerable to the trauma of poverty, addiction, violence and that kind of thing,” she said. 

“Fabulous people live there, fabulous people working hard and trying to make their communities the best they can be. 

“But this is happening in poorer communities; this is not happening in Dublin 6 or Foxrock or Killiney or places like that. 

“This has happened out of sight, out of mind for most decision makers.”

Main image: An arson attack in Dublin. Picture by: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie.