Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
NIO DOES NOT ISSUE COMPO FOR BONFIRES
Payout over damage to apartment block ruled out
THE Government has ruled out compensating residents of an apartment block damaged on the Eleventh Night.
Windows in the high-rise building in South Belfast shattered and other scorch damage was sustained from the Sandy Row bonfire.
Firefighters spent the night dousing the tower block on Wellwood Street with water in an effort to prevent it going up in flames.
Yesterday, as the area’s MP said the building was fully insured, the Government countered speculation it would pick up the tab for what could be a significant repair bill.
A spokeswoman said: “The Northern Ireland Office does not operate a bonfire compensation scheme.
“The issue of bonfires is complex and often involves a number of organisations operating within the devolved administration such as the local council and the respective landowner.
“Where an individual is seeking compensation for damage to property, the specific circumstances of each claim will define the process.”
Huge bonfires burned in loyalist areas across Northern Ireland on Tuesday night.
Firefighters said they dealt with 40 bonfire-related incidents – up 21% on last year. They received 213 emergency calls and mobilised to 133 incidents – a 49% hike on 2016.
The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service described the night as “exceptionally busy” with crews dealing with 95 incidents between 10pm and 1am.
Homes were boarded up at a number of bonfire sites amid safety concerns.
As Wellwood Street residents demanded accountability, Belfast City Council also said it did not operate a bonfire compensation scheme.
A spokesman said: “The council works with a range of partner agencies and communities to mitigate the most negative impacts of bonfires. However, it has no role in relation to the bonfire itself.”
Democratic Unionist South Belfast MP Emma Little-pengelly said the apartment block is fully insured and repairs will be undertaken.
She also pledged to work with the community in Sandy Row to ensure such an incident would not be repeated.
The MP added many residents were “worried, upset and fearful” during the bonfire, saying: “That is wrong and should not happen.”
Residents were worried, upset and fearful. That is wrong and should not happen EMMA LITTLE-PENGELLY SOUTH BELFAST MP YESTERDAY