Sinn Féin councillor Breandán Lewis says fires started in wheelie bins to the rear of houses in Charlemont Square, Bessbrook, could have lead to loss of lives. The Sinn Féin councillor was speaking after visiting the scene on Saturday morning. Breandán Lewis said,

“ This is another example of a growing problem of anti social behaviour in the area. If the individuals who started these fires could only get into their heads the potential consequences of their behaviour we might have some chance of bringing such actions to an end. One of these fires totally burned out a wheelie bin right beside an oil tank. Had this tank caught fire we could have been looking at deaths in these premises.

The owner of one house was wakened in the early hours of Saturday morning by the flames and thankfully was able to raise the alarm and extinguish the fires. Only for this the occupier of the second house would not have known the danger they were in.

That kind of generous behaviour is more typical of the Bessbrook people and is in stark contrast to the actions of the thugs who caused the danger. I would appeal to those responsible to use their energy to improve the lives of Bessbrook residents not threaten them.

I also congratulate again residents in various parts of Bessbrook who are uniting in opposition to this type of anti social behaviour. A strong united community spirit can defeat the small minority who have no ones interests at heart.”