MINDLESS

The vehicle, only officially unveiled less than two months ago in memory of Stranocum teenager, James Elliott, was discovered burned out on Saturday morning by the Regional Commander of the CRS, Mr. Sean McCarry, went he went to take it to an event in Portballintrae.

It had been parked around 10 p.m. on Friday night at Ballybrakes after having come out of a coachworks at Cullybackey. It was only when Mr. McCarry returned before 8 p .m. the following morning that he made the grim discovery.

None of the emergency services was alerted to the fact that the bus was on fire and Mr. McCarry is at a loss to explain why anyone would want to destroy a vehicle bought by the community specifically to serve the community.

Speaking at the scene, Mr. McCarry said: "I thought it would have been safe enough where I parked it, but some mindless individuals decided to attack it and I still cannot believe I am looking at the same vehicle. I thought it was someone else's.

The Mayor of Ballymoney, Councillor Bill Kennedy, said it was difficult to imagine how something bought by voluntary donations and sponsorship could be lost in such a manner.

"This bus was for the benefit of the community and designed to ease the burden on the emergency services when they were helping people in distress. Its loss is a serious blow to the Rescue Service and others. When you think of all the money raised and the effort put it and to see their efforts now lying in ruins, it is very difficult to comprehend," the Mayor said.

Clive and Margaret Elliott who, along with many others in Stranocum, launched a fund-raising campaign following the death of their only son last year in a drowning tragedy, said they were devastated.

Holding back tears, Mrs. Elliott told the Times: "This was not just a bus, it was the James Elliott bus and I felt sick when I first saw it burned."

Her daughter, Sara, said she couldn't believe that something like this could happen after so much effort went in to raise money.

"So many people put in so much effort and often risked personal injury in doing so. They just kept going and now their efforts are gone."

Mr. Elliott said words failed him when he saw what had happened. He wondered what could possibly motivate anyone to do such a thing.

"This vehicle was here to help people in need. What do you do people who did this? They should be taken to a family who are in need of help as we were a year ago and witness the devastation a tragedy can cause," he added.

Meanwhile, Mr. McCarry has taken steps to replace what he calls the irreplaceable.

He said: "We are now going to focus our whole attention on getting a new bus. I have already been speaking to our contact in England requesting that goes straight out and find us another vehicle which will be a fitting tribute to the memory of James and everyone else involved.

"I have no idea where we are going to get the money, but those in the community who helped us in the first place are still there."

Detectives in Coleraine are investigating an arson attack on a local Community Search and Rescue vehicle in the Ballybrakes Road area of Ballymoney.

Sometime between 10pm on the Friday 1 October and 8am on Saturday 2 October the vehicle had been set alight and totally destroyed.

Anyone who witnessed the arson attack or who has any information is asked to contact detectives at Coleraine on 0845 600 8000. Information can also be passed anonymously to the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.