'Thank God children weren't here'- victims

Ricky McArthur and fiancee Laura Parke were awoken by neighbours in their Burnfoot home on Sunday morning after thugs petrol bombed their family car.

The fire was so strong it also set alight the front of their home, smashing it's front windows. Laura and Ricky, who have two children under three, say they "thank God" they were not in the house at the time of the attack.

Laura told the Sentinel: "These people know that we have children and thank God they weren't at home at the time. I work all day on a Monday so both stay with relatives on a Sunday. I'm glad they weren't here to see it."

The blaze completely devastated the family's car with their children's belongings inside. The intensity of the fire melted the guttering and their front door. The couple say they have been the target of attacks before.

"This is ongoing we have had our car smashed twice," said Ricky, "We've had our windows broken before when we lived in Limavady and they tried to put in our windows here but got the wrong house."

Laura added: "This is our home and we will not be moving out. We have put a lot of money into this house and they are not going to force us out. We are not going anywhere."

The attack happened in the early hours of Monday morning. The couple were alerted to the fire by a neighbour who banged their window to get them out of the home.

Laura described: "It was a quarter past three when I heard the bang and I turned around to Ricky and asked what time it was. Then i heard banging at the window. I could see the flames through the window and shouted to him that the car was on fire. Then I phoned 999 straight away.

"I just knew that it had been set on fire because the last time I had been out in the car was around 7.30pm and it was well cooled by then, it was a short journey," added Laura.

The young mum called those responsible "cowards."

"It's sick. If you have a problem then come and have it out and say what the problem is, what are they hoping to get from this that's what I want to know. Are they going to go on until someone is dead?Is that what is going to come to?"

Laura added:"You are cowards. Come and have it face to face. That car is transport for those two bits of weans, their belongings were in it, horse riding stuff. We are supposed to be going horse riding tonight at 6pm. How am I supposed to explain to her what has happened?"

Ricky and Laura say they hope police will be able to gather enough evidence to put a stop to the attacks.

UUC Councillors Leslie Cubitt and Boyd Douglas condemned the incident.

Councillor Cubitt said: "I totally condemn this attack. Lives could have been lost I am asking anyone who has anyinformation on this to go to police immediately.

"I also feel that police should be putting CCTV cameras around this families home. This is a hard working man who has built up a business to support his family and does not deserve this. I hope that all his neighbours will support him 100 per cent."

A PSNI spokeswoman said they are appealing for more information and said a black Vauxhall Vectra was seen in the area prior to the fire.

"Police are keen to speak to anyone who saw suspicious activity between 3am and 3.30am and or has any information regarding a black Vauxhall Vectra seen in the area prior to the fire. The telephone number to ring is 0845 600 8000. Alternatively information can be passed on anonymously through the 'Crimestoppers' charity on freephone 0800555111."