Fears Grow That Limavady Going To Blazes

Fear stalks the rural town of Limavady where many residents are now living in terror of being burned alive in their homes.

There are real concerns that arsonists will target their homes in a growing number of such incidents since the new year.

The Chairman of the local District Policing Partnership, Councillor Michael Coyle, has said that while he understood that many residents were fearful of retaliation if they went to the police, the alternative was "anarchy".

He said that information could be passed anonymously to the PSNI through intermediaries such as Crimestoppers or local politicians if people were concerned about their safety.

"There are problems with drugs, vandalism, thefts of heating oil and obviously the arson attacks," said Mr Coyle.

"The arsons have been going on for two or three years and have ended up in 10 houses being burned in Woodland Walk as well as attacks in Edenmore Park and on the Gorteen House Hotel.

"The big danger is that someone will be killed and that’s why people need to be willing to come forward and tell what they know about these attacks."

The former Limavady mayor and MLA said police were working to bring the arsonists to justice but could only succeed with the support of local people.

One victim, who lost two vans in the latest arson attack at Roe Valley Country Park, said he did not know why someone would torch his vehicles in the apparently mindless attack.

A PSNI spokeswoman said police were unable to comment on the ongoing investigation.

But Limavady Mayor Edwin Stevenson said he understood that CCTV footage from Monday night’s fire gave a "pretty good" image of the arsonist.

Meanwhile, both Catholics and Protestants in the area have expressing their rage at the culprits’ recklessness which they fear will end up costing lives.

See: Limavady 'Arson' Attacks Injure Two

(BMcC)