GERALDINE Graham and her son Kenneth are devastated beyond words following an arson attack which killed two horses and destroyed a yard at their Lenamore Stables in Muff, Co Donegal, last Sunday morning.

“I don’t know what to say, Kenneth is absolutely distraught. He is 25 years old and all he has worked for is gone up in smoke,” a heartbroken Geraldine told The Irish Field yesterday (Friday).

Two people, Julie McCartney (31) and Gerard Given (27), have been charged with the arson of the stable yard and will appear again at Letterkenny District Court on Monday. The fire happened in Kenneth’s private show jumping stable just before 6am on Sunday morning and Geraldine was awakened by the explosion.

“I opened the curtains and looked out and there was a towering inferno in the back yard, and I just immediately knew it was Kenneth’s stables. I screamingly went into his bedroom, got them up, we ran down the yard and got as many horses out of the stables as possible. Unfortunately two didn’t make it, we are devastated.”

Five of the seven horses were released from the stables, but, sadly, two horses died in the blaze. Lyrical, a 12-year-old mare by Limmerick who has been a consistent winner at 1.35-1.40m, was one of the horses trapped in the fire.

Another mare, who was co-owned by Ronan McLaughlin, also died in the blaze. A horse lorry was also burned to the ground.

Kenneth’s girlfriend, Megan McGettigan (21), was brought to hospital where she was treated for smoke inhalation. “She (Megan) is fine, she just had bad smoke inhalation. She was very very brave, she ran in and released five horses,” Geraldine said.

Both youngsters are now undergoing counselling after the traumatic event. “The horrific thing is they had to watch the other two horses [die]. He (Kenneth) had a little porta cabin with all his tack, it’s all gone. He said to me ‘mummy I haven’t even got a dandy brush’.

“They are devastated, they are both getting counselling. I have to stay strong. People have been very good, we appreciate that.”

One of the accused, Julie McCartney, was familiar to the Graham family, having had lessons at Lenamore Stables.

The equestrian centre has been in business for almost 50 years. As well as Kenneth’s show jumping business, it is a riding school.

The centre was closed for business until Friday, when lessons resumed.