‘You’ve done the damage, you’ve destroyed our life, you’re still honking and threatening our life as well’
The owner of a Shankill Road business destroyed in an arson attack has said: “All our life’s work is gone now” as she tries to salvage what’s left.
A former Gospel Hall on Shankill Road was destroyed over the weekend following an arson attack in the early hours of Saturday, June 6. The building had recently been bought in order to turn it into a shop.
The owner of the property spoke to Belfast Live following the arson attack as she attempted to salvage what is left, saying she had put her life savings into it and this had now gone up in smoke. The woman said she requested the police attend the property with her on Monday – as she has been too scared to visit it alone.
The woman said: “Police are still here today because I requested. I couldn’t come yesterday, I didn’t feel safe to come here.
“Today you don’t see people standing here, but that day, literally every minute, cars were honking at us. I’m like, you’ve done the damage, you’ve destroyed our life, you’re still honking and threatening our life as well, you know.
“That’s why I was too scared to come yesterday until I got the police protection today. I’m just trying to salvage. I don’t have money to do anything now, all our life savings gone. All our life’s work is gone now. It was just opened, it was gonna open in a few days.”
PSNI Superintendent Finola Dornan said: “Just after 2.45am, we received a report from our colleagues in Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service that they were attending a fire at an old Gospel Hall on the Shankill Road.
“On police arrival, Fire Service confirmed that the fire had been caused by deliberate ignition to the roof. The building had been totally gutted by the blaze.
“Our detectives have begun carrying out enquiries and the community will see a police presence in the area today.
“This out-of-use building had been bought by legitimate business people who would have brought jobs to the local community and, as with any crime motivated by hate, we will be providing them with an enhanced level of supervision, investigation and support.
“As a Police Service, we do not underestimate the impact hate-related crimes have on victims, their families and wider communities. While we have a key role to play in tackling, preventing and supporting victims of hate incidents and hate crimes, this is a wider societal issue which cannot be resolved by policing alone.
“We continue to work closely with our statutory and voluntary partner agencies and the local community to find solutions.
“We would encourage anyone with information in relation to this arson attack to contact us on 101, quoting reference 187 06/06/26. We would be particularly keen to hear from anyone with relevant CCTV, dashcam or other footage.”
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