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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
National
Niall Deeney

Artwork by vulnerable people torched by suspected arsonists in blaze at Derry mental health facility

Suspected arsonists have torched the "beautiful art work" created by vulnerable people at a mental health facility in Derry, the Western Trust has said.

The fire happened at Rossdowney House, off the Glendermott Road, in the early hours of Monday morning.

Police say they are treating the incident as arson.

Read more: Coleraine: Residents forced from homes in ‘reckless’ arson attack

The Western Trust, meanwhile, has said it has been forced to close a day centre used by 40 people because of the fire.

An "art therapy room" has been completely destroyed - including the "beautiful artwork" created by service users, the Trust added.

A Trust spokesperson said: "A fire was discovered overnight at Rossdowney House, Glendermott Road. The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, alongside the PSNI attended the incident which is believed to have been started deliberately.

“Melrose Day Centre which is interconnected to Rossdowney House has been severely impacted by this deliberate fire.

"Melrose Day Centre delivers vital Adult Mental Health Day Care Services to 40 service users. The impact of this fire has resulted in 21 service users not being able to attend the Day Centre today. These vulnerable service users rely on coming to our Day Centre for support from staff and to engage with other service users and take part in therapeutic activities.

“Staff are currently keeping in contact with service users today and we are assessing the impact over the coming week. The art therapy room used by our clients has been completely destroyed which will have an impact on what we can deliver to our service users over the coming weeks."

The spokesperson continued: "This will be devastating for our service users as all their beautiful art work has been destroyed. A number of Women and Children’s Services supporting families and young people have also had to be cancelled due to the damage caused to the premises.”

The Spokesperson continued: “This is the second deliberate fire to have occurred at health and social care facilities in Londonderry in recent weeks. The Trust would appreciate the public's cooperation with the police appeal for information in relation to this incident.”

A spokesperson for the PSNI said: "Police in Derry/Londonderry are appealing for witnesses and information in relation to a fire at a building in the Waterside.

"Police were alerted to the blaze at Rossdowney House at around 1.20am today, Monday 24th April. NIFRS were also at the scene and had extinguished the fire. At this time the fire is being treated as deliberate, and investigated as an arson.

"Anyone with information, or who was travelling in the area between 1am and 1.15am and has dash cam is asked to check their footage. The number to call with information is 101, reference number 65 of 24/04/23. You can also submit a report online using the non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/ or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/"

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