ARSON ATTACK AT PEGGY'S LOANING

Serious damage was caused to a house at Brookfield Meadows in Peggy's Loaning last week when a group of young people set fire to a shed behind the house.

A neighbour alerted the security man on site at around 7.40pm last Thursday and the Fire Brigade had to take a back route to get to the house because one of the building vehicles was blocking the entrance to the site. Police who attended the scene said they saw a number of youths running off as they arrived.

The development, which has around 70 flats and houses, has been set aside for social housing.

Site foreman Hugh Nolan said this attack is a setback.

"They've caused serious damage to the back of the house," he told the Leader. "We'll have to replace the windows and the door and the shed is completely destroyed.

"There are people supposed to be moving into the house and we're not sure yet if there might be a bit of a delay with that.

"But to be honest it could have been worse and we haven't had any attacks like this since we first came here last August."

It is estimated there are 700 people on the waiting list for social housing throughout the district, and attacks like this make the problem worse, according to Councillor Joan Baird, head of the Housing Council.

"There is a desperate need for social housing in the area," said Mrs Baird. "We don't want this sort of thing happening to make things even worse.

"There is a history in that area of young ones causing trouble and I would appeal to anyone who knows who may have been involved in this attack to give any information they have to the police."

Police are appealing to anyone who was in the area and witnessed the fire being started or has any information in relation to this incident to contact them on 0845 600 8000. Information about crime can also be passed anonymously to the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.