Play park arson attack ‘sickening’, says mother

An arson attack on a play park has been condemned as “sickening” by a mother who campaigned for it to include play equipment for disabled children.

Claire McGill, a mother-of-three, said she was “shocked and sickened” after arsonists set fire to equipment at the play park in Strathfoyle, County Londonderry, on Wednesday evening.

Her daughter, Sianon, who is a wheelchair-user with special needs, is among the children who use the park.

The police confirmed that the fire on Wednesday night is being treated as arson.

The play park is a popular spot for young families in the area, following years of campaigning by residents’ groups for the facility.

Residents, including Claire McGill, had successfully campaigned for disabled-friendly play equipment to be installed in 2022, after it was not included in the original plans.

“It’s just heartbreaking as a mum, because my kids, like many others, use the park regularly,” she said.

“I have a daughter with special needs, and all my kids use the park — it’s a place we all go.

“It’s the kids across the whole area who are going to suffer from this sort of thing.”

Ms McGill said the arson attack was especially disappointing as it had been carried out in the run-up to summer.

“This is meant to be a safe place for them to have fun. It’s sad that this has happened and it’s a shame for all the kids of Strathfoyle.”

The Northern Ireland Fire Service (NIFRS) said they were called to reports of a slide on fire at the park in the Beechwood Park area of Strathfoyle.

They also confirmed it had been started deliberately.

The park closed on Thursday, Derry City and Strabane District Council said, adding that substantial damage had been caused to some sections of the play area.

The city’s mayor Lilian Seenoi Barr said she was “appalled by this senseless act of vandalism”.

“The council is committed to restoring the park as quickly as possible and will keep the public informed of progress,” Seenoi Barr added.

The SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan condemned it as an attack on the local community.

He also thanked firefighters whose swift response helped to limit the extent of the damage, and urged anyone with information to contact the police.

“It’s been so busy the last couple of weeks with the weather being so good,” Durkan told BBC Radio Foyle’s North West Today programme.

“This park in Strathfoyle was hard fought for and it has been much-loved for many years.”

He said it “defies belief” that anyone would consider it acceptable or tolerable to set part of it on fire.