Arson Attack Leaves Young Family Temporarily Homeless

A young family has spent the night "in a terrible way" and in emergency accommodation after an arson attack.

Donna McBrien (29) and her three children, all under the age of six, were asleep when an oil tank and three wheeled bins were set on fire behind their house.

Ms McBrien was woken by a noise and got up to find her garden and the side of her house on fire.

Everyone was brought to safety but the house, in Mill View, Randalstown, was so damaged they could not spend the night there and will have to find temporary accommodation.

Toys belonging to the children - aged six, five and four – have been destroyed.

The police arrived before Ms McBrien called the emergency services, and told her they had seen the smoke from Antrim.

Ms McBrien said: "My nerves are gone. I'm shaking like a leaf and I can't settle myself. I can’t think of any reason why anyone would do this. The kids are in a terrible way."

A police spokeswoman asked for anyone who noticed anything unusual at about 4am on Sunday to get in touch.

She said investigations were still "in the early stages" so all leads would be followed up.

(NE)