A man has been questioned and released as part of the investigation into a suspected arson attack on a TD's constituency office.
A fire broke out at Michelle Mulherin's office in Ballina, Co Mayo at around 7 o'clock yesterday evening.
Gardaí had been called to investigate damage to a window, when they spotted the blaze.
There was nobody in the office at the time. A unit from the Mayo County Fire Service attended the scene and the fire was quickly put out.
Ms Mulherin released a brief statement yesterday evening following the incident.
"Gardaí are investigating an incident at my office in Ballina, Co. Mayo, this evening. Thankfully nobody was injured.
"I await the outcome of the Garda investigation and will be making no further comment at this stage," she said.
A 39-year-old man was arrested in the Ballina area late last night and questioned, before being released from custody early this morning.
Gardaí say investigations are ongoing.
Fine Gael TD for Meath East Regina Doherty spoke to Newstalk Breakfast about the suspected attack:
Deputy Doherty also revealed a man threatened to burn down her house with her children in it. The threat was made a number of years ago:
TD Mulherin has been under scrutiny after it emerged she had made calls from Leinster House to a private phone in Kenya.
The bill for the calls, which were made between 2011 and 2013, amounted to over €2,000.
Ms Mulherin says she made the calls but they were not personal in nature.
Originally published at 22:22, Tuesday 27 January 2015
