A pregnant woman and her husband were forced to jump from a first-floor window after their home was petrol bombed today.
A three-year old girl also had to be rescued through an upstairs window while two other adults escaped from the ground floor arson attack.
The two-storey end of terrace property in Clontygora Court, Dundalk, Co Louth, was gutted following the arson attack which took place at around 3.35am.
Sinn Fein TD Ruairi O Murchu, who visited the scene described the attack as “appalling”.
He said: “It is pure luck we are not looking at coffins.”
Mr O Murchu added a man and his family “were trapped in the room upstairs, they had to open the back window and jump out”.
He said: “His wife was seven or eight months pregnant.”
The couple suffered broken ankles and were today in the Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.
Their three-year old child is understood to have been handed down from the window upstairs to a member of the public who had heard screaming.
Mr O Murchu said: “We repeat our calls for those involved to stop.”
He also said it was thankful that neighbours were so vigilant.
One member of the public made a number of attempts to get up the stairs on hearing a child and a pregnant woman were there.
The person was beaten back by smoke and flames and then went to assist in helping the child to be handed to safety from the back upstairs window.
Mr O Murchu added: “Our efforts to find a resolution to this will redouble.
“Nobody should have to live under the threat of violence and to have an attack like this happen, where people’s lives were put at serious risk, is completely reprehensible.”
Detectives have set up an incident room at Dundalk Garda station and have appealed for witnesses.
A spokesman urged any drivers who were in the area at the time and may have camera footage, including dash-cam on their vehicles to contact officers.
Assistant Chief Fire Officer Colm Lambe described the scene when his crews arrived.
He said: “It was well ablaze, the sitting room along with the kitchen.
“They got the fire contained to that area so it did not spread upstairs.”
