Possible ice link to devastating South Melbourne hotel fire

A fire at South Melbourne’s newly renovated Albion Hotel has been linked to a package of the drug ice found at another hotel.

Days before the Albion Hotel blaze on Monday, a package containing an estimated $100,000 of ice was thrown over the fence of Richmond’s Precinct Hotel and later handed to police.

Two brothers link the hotels – the Albion Hotel is co-owned by Matt Darcy, and the Precinct Hotel is co-owned by his brother Luke Darcy.

“Our maintenance guy turned up one morning at our Richmond hotel and found a parcel of what has now been confirmed to be ice,” Luke Darcy said.

He said that any link to the Albion Hotel fire would be devastating.

“A family-run business that suddenly almost is, you know, linking to underworld activity, it just doesn’t sit comfortably with you.”

However, Victoria Police today confirmed the Precinct Hotel and Albion Hotel investigations were being run separately.

The Albion Hotel fire was lit by two masked men, who stormed the hotel and assaulted a foreman before setting it alight.

The fire caused millions of dollars to the newly refurbished hotel, which was due to open next Friday.