The family of Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty had a lucky escape after their car went up in flames on Thursday night.
Deputy Doherty is urging parents not to leave children unaccompanied in cars following the frightening incident.
Deputy Doherty’s wife Róisín and their sons had left their car just ten minutes before it caught fire outside their home in Gweedore.
The cause of the fire was a car fault and not malicious, Doherty said.
He thanked the Gweedore Fire Service who attended the scene and brought the blaze under control.
Sharing a video on Facebook, Doherty said:
“Not the scene I was expecting to greet me when I landed home from the Dáil last night.
“Thank god no one injured.
“Róisín and the boys were out of the car and in the house for about 10 mins at this stage.
“Big shout out to all the team in the Gaoth Dobhair Fire Brigade, excellent considerate and thorough.”
Deputy Doherty warned that the fire was a “big big lesson for everyone don’t leave children unaccompanied in cars – even a few minutes can kill.”
The Sinn Féin Finance Spokesperson, who has led a campaign against insurance company premiums and fraudulent claims, added that he was having trouble getting a response from his own provider yesterday: “Three calls later and insurance company still hasn’t returned the call. Says it all!!!,” he wrote.
