Show house destroyed in latest attack by arsonists

Show house destroyed in latest attack by arsonists

11 January 2017

ARSONISTS have struck for a third time in Killyleagh in recent weeks.

A show house under construction at a prestigious new private housing development at the Comber Road in the town was damaged in a blaze last Saturday afternoon.

The incident comes after an empty house at the Kerry estate off the Downpatrick Road was set on fire last November, while the former Royal British Legion premises at Catherine Street in the town was targeted two weeks ago.

The latest blaze at the Sloane Hill development has left developers with a £20,000 repair bill and prompted an appeal to parents to warn their children about the dangers of starting malicious fires and using buildings sites as playgrounds.

The spate of recent fires will be discussed at a public meeting being held at the Bridge Community Centre in the town in two weeks’ time, with the January 23 meeting also hoping to pave the way for the launch of a new community group.

The weekend fire was started on the first floor of the show house at the building site where 44 new homes will be built over the next three years.

The site manager, Stephen Dillon, said developers Corwood, by using local building suppliers and employing a number of local people, were making a major contribution to the local economy in the short and long term.

Mr Dillon, who works for D and S Contracts who are building the new homes, said while the impact of the weekend blaze was substantial, the damage can be repaired.

Mr Dillon appealed to parents to warn their children about the dangers of entering a construction site.

“We are driven by health and safety in this industry and building sites are not safe places; people need to stay away,” he declared. “Everyone who works at this site is trained to be here as it is a dangerous environment. It is not a play area.

“I can repair the damage to the house, but a child’s life is priceless. That is why what happened last weekend is concerning. Someone getting injured at the site while we are not here is something we can’t fix. It is important parents warn their children about the dangers building sites pose and to stay away from them.”

Mr Dillon added: “I would ask parents to reinforce the message that their children should stay away from this site. We hope what happened last weekend does not happen again.”

Rowallane councillors Billy Walker and Terry Andrews have condemned those responsible for the weekend attack and said parents need to educate their children that once they enter a building site they are immediately putting themselves at risk.

“This is a working area where children simply should not be,” Councillor Walker declared. “There are dangers all over the place and the message must go out that building sites are not playgrounds.

“God forbid if a child had fallen from scaffolding or became trapped inside the house after the fire was started last weekend. I am worried about waking up some morning to discover someone has been killed or maimed as a result of a malicious fire. This activity must stop otherwise we could have a tragedy on our hands.”

Councillor Walker said many people were concerned about the spate of recent fires and confirmed the issue will be discussed at the forthcoming public meeting in the town which representatives from a number of statutory agencies will be invited to attend.

Councillor Andrews branded those responsible for the spate of arson attacks as “mindless morons” who could end up with a criminal record which would hang over them for the rest of their lives.

He added: “These attacks must stop. It is simply unacceptable that there have been three arson attacks in Killyleagh over a very short period of time.

“People are concerned and want to see an end to this despicable behaviour. It is fortunate no one has been killed or seriously injured as a result of these fires.”