FORMER DRUG ADDICTS' HOSTEL DAMAGED IN ARSON ATTACK

A Ballymena hostel which housed heroin addicts was badly damaged in an
arson attack hours after the building shut its doors for the last time.

A police spokesman said they were treating the incident at 'The
Crescent' in the Pentagon area of the Co Antrim town as malicious.

A man, understood not to have been one of the former residents, was
arrested, interviewed and released on bail.

Fire Service spokesman John Denver said they were called to the blaze
at 3.15am.

A spokesman for the Housing Executive, which referred people to the
premises, said they were told recently that the building was closing.

The spokesman said they had provided new accommodation for anyone who
had approached them.

It is understood the premises had been home to eight people before it
was closed.

The fire began in a bedroom near the top floor and damage in that part
of the building was severe, with a hole being burnt through the roof
tiles.

Mr Denver said strong winds hampered efforts to tackle the fire and it
took an hour to bring under control.

Stephen Millar, who ran the hostel, said heroin addicts were housed
there recently.

He blamed costs associated with damage regularly being caused to the
premises and a backlog in payments from the Housing Executive as
prompting the closure decision.