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Couple say they have 'lost everything' in arson attack

Bernie Allen
BBC News NI
BBC Two adjourning grey stone houses have extensive fire damage. The roof has collapsed as a result of the blaze. In front of both houses is a garden with green grass and a brown wooden fence around its perimeter. In between the houses, out the front, are 3 wheelie bins, coloured brown, blue and black. The house on the left has its windows boarded up. The top right window of the house on the right is smashed. BBC
Police received reports of the blaze on Sunday morning

A woman whose house was destroyed in a fire in the early hours of Sunday morning said she has "lost everything".

Marie Dickson had been awake, attending to her young grandson, when she smelt smoke and alerted her husband, Gary.

She told BBC News NI that she feared they could have been killed in the blaze.

Police said they received reports of a fire at a house in the Rathkyle area of Antrim at about 05:30 BST.

The fire started at a neighbouring property before spreading to the Dickson's house.

Detectives said they are treating the incident as arson.

A man has his arm round a woman as they look at the camera. The man has grey facial stubble and wears a navy dressing gown, he has short brown hair. The woman, on the mans left, wears a pink top with a black dressing gown. She has a silver necklace with a heart on the end of it. A pair of clear glasses sit on her red hair.
Marie Dickson and her husband Gary say they have lost everything.

Mrs Dickson said she initially thought the smell of smoke was a candle burning, but realised it was the roof of her home.

"I'm devastated. I have memories of my son who died seven years ago, all in that house," she said.

"I had my mummy's photos, my son's photos - everything in that house.

"It might not mean much to other people, but it was my life.

"I have lost everything. I'm sitting here in a pair of pyjamas and a house coat belonging to my neighbour.

"I was just standing watching my whole life getting burnt in front of me."

Two adjourning grey stone houses have extensive fire damage. The roof has collapsed as a result of the blaze. In front of both houses is a garden with green grass and a brown wooden fence around its perimeter. The house on the left has its windows boarded up. The top right window of the house on the right is smashed. There are orange plastic barriers out the front of the houses. A blue and brown bin can bee seen in the garden of the house on the right of the frame.
Ms Dickson says she has previously raised concerns with the Housing Executive about the adjoining property.

She said they were offered alternative accommodation by the Housing Executive, but that the property is unsuitable as it is in a different town and they are unable to drive.

"My family all live in Antrim; I need my family now," she told BBC News NI.

In a statement, the Housing Executive said the family were offered "emergency accommodation, with a view to getting something more suitable over the next few days".

"However, they have declined this offer," it continued.

"For families in this situation, we always endeavour to get accommodation as near as possible to their homes.

"We also provide transport. Our team will be contact the family again today to discuss options."