Two people arrested after Willow Park disturbance

Two people were arrested at the weekend after a disturbance in Willow Park during the early hours of Sunday morning that saw two houses in the area set alight. A man and a woman were arrested for public order offences following the disturbance and are due before Athlone District Court in September. Two houses were set alight, one of them suffering extensive damage while the other one only had minor damage. Athlone Fire Brigade was called to a fire at a house in the Willow Park area at about half past four on Sunday morning. The hall carpet in the house was on fire and the fire was starting to spread to the stairs. The firefighters put out the fire, but Station Manager Ray McLoughlin said this week there was a lot of smoke damage to the house. As the brigade was leaving the area one of the firemen saw smoke coming from a second house and the firefighters then attended this fire. A couch in a living room was on fire in this house, but the fire was quickly put out. Two assaults were also reported to Gardai following the disturbance in the area. Sgt John Lawless of Athlone Garda Station said Gardai were investigating the disturbance and expected to make further arrests. He said there were no serious injuries suffered as a result of the disturbance.