Auctioned House Torched?

One of the houses that was sold this week by the Assets Recovery Agency (ARA) under the Proceeds of Crime Act has been seriously damaged by a suspicious blaze.

Firefighters were called to a blaze at a house, just hours after it was sold at an auction of properties seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act work of the Assets Recovery Agency.

Police said they were treating the fire at a house on Muskett Road, in Carryduff, as suspicious.

The blaze broke out at about 8pm on Thursday, after the house was bought for £190,000 at Wilson's Auctions.

The house was one of 12 sold which raised £1.8m, although six homes being auctioned failed to sell.

The ARA said the houses were obtained through the proceeds of "a wide range of serious criminal activity". The properties are in areas including Lurgan, Coleraine, Magheralin and Belfast.

The agency expects to get about £1m back after any mortgages and loans on the houses are cleared.

The most expensive house was a four-bedroomed bungalow in Newtownabbey, which went for £240,000.

This was £10,000 below the guide price and much cheaper than similar houses in the same street.

On Thursday, ARA Interim Director Alan McQuillan said: "The auction of these properties tonight is proof that the extensive powers under the Proceeds of Crime Act work in taking the profit out of crime.

"It sends out the clear message that crime will not pay and that we together with our partners in the Organised Crime Task Force are determined to vigorously pursue those in our community who attempt to prosper from crime.

"We want everyone here to know that their concerns about people profiting from crime are being acted on."

(BMcC)