A YOUNG MAN who was questioned by gardaí in connection with a suspected arson attack in which two people died in Cork last weekend has gone into hiding, after a group of angry men gathered at the house where he was staying on Monday.

Helena O’Dwyer, 25, and her five-year-old nephew Ryan died in the house fire at Mahon, Co Cork.

Her sister Dawn O’Dwyer said earlier this week that she believed her sister had died trying to save Ryan. Dawn said Helena was definitely awake and knew there was a fire in the house because she had called to say she was coming out.

Yesterday, Helena’s father Joe O’Dwyer told Cork’s 96fm that she had received text messages threatening she would be shot. According to Joe, one text said: “There’s a bullet waiting for you. We know where you are. Mahon’s a small place. RIP.”

The Star reports that he said a threatening letter then followed the text messages, which she began receiving 12 days before her death. A garda source told the paper that an investigation into the threats had been underway for those 12 days.

The man, 22, who was arrested and released in connection with the suspected attack was advised by gardaí not to return to his home after his release on Monday over fears for his safety.

Read more on this story in today’s Irish Daily Star >