A Co Down couple who were in Belfast to celebrate their 49th wedding anniversary say their joy was cut short after getting a phone call to tell them their car had been destroyed.
The pair, from the Downpatrick area, had parked behind the town's bus station on August 31 at 11am, with plans to return the next day. This parking spot was a usual place for them, who make good use of their free bus passes to save fuel and parking hassles.
But on return, they were met with a scene of devastation - their car was black with smoke and completely burnt out.
Read more: Downpatrick attack appeal after rock thrown at car hospitalising young woman
Speaking to Belfast Live, Barry Montgomery said it was "soul-destroying" to find the car in the state it was left.
"We left the car in the car park behind the bus station in Downpatrick to go to Belfast where we staying the night to celebrate our 49th wedding anniversary.
"After a great night, we made our way to the bus station in Belfast for the return journey, just before boarding bus we got a call from my son to say police had called at our house near Ardglass to say the car had been burnt out in Downpatrick. The police left contact details and I called them from Belfast, the Constable told me that my car and one other had been burnt out and originally they thought it had been stolen.
"When we got back to Downpatrick the sight awaiting us was soul destroying my car was recognisable but destroyed beyond doubt while the other car was unrecognisable completely gutted out. The police told me at that time they didn't know who owned car and I still don't know as I can't make contact with the officer who phoned me.
"I am utterly disgusted that anybody in this day and age can just go along and destroy other people's property. I mean what is wrong with these people? What did I do to them? Have they no parents? No grandparents?
"I am hoping the police by now have CCTV of their journey to and from their cowardly act. it is time something was done to stop these louts in their tracks because this simply is not civilised behaviour
"In the meantime, I am left to count the cost of their actions and go through the stressful aftermath."
Police in Downpatrick told Belfast Live that they are investigating an arson attack on two parked cars at a car park in Market Street in the early hours of Thursday, September 1.
Officers say they received a report at around 3.50am on Thursday morning that two cars, a Volkswagen Tiguan and a BMW 330, were on fire in the car park. Fire Service personnel attended and extinguished the fires but both cars were left completely destroyed.
A PSNI spokesperson added: "Further reports of fires were received at Killough Road and St Patricks Avenue where bins had been set alight at both locations and at Market Street where an advertising hoarding for a supermarket had been burnt.
"Enquiries are ongoing into these incidents and anyone with any information which could assist officers with their enquiries is asked to contact police in Downpatrick on 101 quoting reference number 134 01/09/22. A report can also be submitted online using the non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/. You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/."
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