NIE hit out at substation attacks

Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) today condemned vandals who broke into a north Belfast substation last Thursday and attempted to set it alight.

It was the third time within a week that NIE engineers had been called to the Whiterock Road because of attempted vandalism.

Calling for community support in tackling the problem, NIE Customer Relations Manager for the area, Terry Waugh said: "Vandalism to electricity equipment can cause death while damage of this nature could have caused a loss of electricity supply to thousands of customers in the area.

"While it is impossible to make equipment completely resistant to determined acts of vandalism the best remedy would be if the people involved can be persuaded to stop putting themselves at risk and their neighbours to great inconvenience.

"I would ask all members of the local community to be extra vigilant and to report anything suspicious to ourselves on 08457 643 643.”

Sinn Fein councillor Marie Cush also called for an end to such attacks: “I wholeheartedly condemn this behaviour. These actions affect the whole community, especially those who are in a more vulnerable position and dependent upon electricity for their wellbeing."

She said vandals who maliciously damage or interfere with electricity equipment not only cause disruption to the power supply in their area but also risk electrocution and put other members of the public in danger.

(MB)