Securing arson-hit school site could cost £10K

The fire service says there have been 10 incidents at the former school site since 2021

It could cost about £10,000 to secure the site of a derelict school building repeatedly targeted by arsonists, the Education Authority (EA) has said.

The estimate for work at the former Faughan Valley school in Drumahoe, County Londonderry, was revealed to BBC Radio Foyle.

Significant damage was caused to the site after a fire, which was started deliberately at the beginning of March.

The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue (NIFRS) has said there have been 10 incidents at the site since 2021.

At the height of the most recent fire, 50 firefighters were at the scene.

'Significant damage'

In a statement, the police said significant damage had been caused to the building as a result of the fire and appealed for witnesses.

Faughan Valley High School amalgamated with Clondermot High School in 2004 to form Lisneal College.

The former school is owned by the EA, which in 2023 deemed it surplus to requirements and started a process to dispose of the site.

The EA told BBC Radio Foyle that staff could not currently re-enter the building to assess the extent of the structural damage caused by the most recent arson attack.

It also said further work was needed to protect the building until the NIFRS gave them the all-clear.

An EA spokesperson said the organisation would now move to advertise it for sale on the open market and hope to dispose of the site before April 2025.

'Residents angry and frustrated'

Hilary McClintock, who is a committee member with the Drumahoe Community Association, said local people were "angry and frustrated".

"The sight is not only an eyesore, but it has become incredibly dangerous given the amount of fires that keep happening at the site," she said.

"Local residents are having to, like last week, close windows and doors due to the asbestos in the building every time there is a fire.

"I really do fear as we come into the summer months there could be even more fires at the site - it really is a recurring problem that needs addressed urgently."

The former Democratic Unionist Party councillor said repeated fires were a drain on the fire service's resources and called on people responsible for starting fires to stop.