'Arsonists must be caught before someone is killed'

THERE has been widespread condemnation of the sickening arson attack at the home of an elderly couple in Whiteabbey earlier this week.

At around 5.30am on Monday (August 2), a silver Ford Fiesta car which was parked outside the couple's Fernagh Road home was set alight. The vehicle was completely destroyed and scorch damage was caused to the front of the house.

The two pensioners, both believed to be aged in their 80s, were at home at the time of the attack but weren't injured.

The incident comes just six weeks after racist thugs set fire to cars belonging to an Indian family and a Filipino family in nearby Fernagh Avenue, but police have stressed that they are not treating this latest attack as sectarian or racially motivated.

The Chairman of Newtownabbey District Policing Partnership, councillor Fraser Agnew, said that the arsonists must be caught before someone is killed.

"This was an attack on the home and property of an elderly couple. Their car was used to go to and from church and it's an absolute disgrace that they should be attacked in this way. It's a miracle that the house didn't catch fire.

"The people behind this attack and previous attacks in the area must be caught before someone is killed. Anyone who can help identify them should get in contact with local police immediately," he commented.

Read the full story in this week's Times...