Opinion

Arson attacks on homes unacceptable

A YOUNG mother-of-three’s home was destroyed in an arson attack in north Belfast at the weekend. 

The woman was interviewed on television and listed a series of other incidents when the house had windows broken and graffiti painted on the property.

She said she believed the attacks were the result of a “personal feud”. If that is the case it is a sad reflection on today’s society.

No-one has the right to damage property. What makes it all the more serious is that a family has been left without a home, the shortage of which has been well publicised in recent times.

More seriously still is the fact that we do not know whether the criminals who did this knew the property was unoccupied when it was set on fire. If they were unaware, that means they did not care that they were putting the lives of four people, three of them children, in danger by their actions.

Another incident at the weekend illustrates that Belfast is not the only place where such dangerous acts take place. In Strabane a ground floor flat was gutted in the early hours of Sunday morning. Other properties had to be evacuated while emergency services dealt with the blaze.

An MLA said the flats affected had been the subject of renovation work and pointed out that the money spent was wasted. 

Many people are desperate for living accommodation so it is very frustrating to see perfectly good homes damaged and possibly destroyed deliberately.

Two other arson attacks were carried out in east Belfast and Ballymena, Co Antrim, over the weekend.

Hopefully the police will apprehend those responsible for all these attacks and the culprits will be brought before the courts and successfully prosecuted.