Cookstown resident ‘scared witless’ by NIE workers cutting branches behind home at 3am

“It was like something from a horror movie,” she told the Mail.

The resident, who did not want to be named, said after being wakened by the loud noise, she looked out her window and saw three or four men wearing head lamps in the dark of night.

Fearing both for her own safety and the security of business premises next door she called police just after 3.30am on Sunday morning.

Police reacting to the incident later told her the fright had been caused by Northern Ireland Electricity workers.

“I looked out my window and saw three or four men with head lamps on,” she said.

“They were using some sort of electric saw to cut down branches 100 yards from my bedroom window.

“It scared the life out of me, so I called the police.

“I had a call back at 3.49am to say that it was NIE. They said they were putting in a new pole.”

A spokesperson for NIE said they had hand delivered letters to “affected residents” notifying them of the work.

But those living in the two homes nearest the works said they did not get one.

“NIE Networks carried out work in Fairhill and Loy Street over the weekend to replace overhead electricity lines and poles and to coincide with public realm work being carried out in the area,” said a spokesperson for the company.

“Unusually this work had to start early on Sunday morning in order to facilitate traffic management and to have electricity restored for church services.”