Alliance rebukes Co Down forest park fire thugs

11.03.38am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 13th Apr 2007

South Down Alliance Representative David Griffin has blasted the people behind a number of deliberately started fires near Annalong yesterday. Police believe that two youths started five fires in Rourkes Park in County Down. These are the latest in a series of fires around the Mourne Mountains area over the Easter holidays.

David Griffin said: "Its disgraceful that this natural landscape has been deliberately destroyed; however, the real disgrace is that these fires put human lives at risk.

"These fires divert the vital resources of local firefighters away from other incidents, which also puts people's lives in danger.

"People need to think about the consequences of their actions and the dangers that they present.

"It is up to parents to ensure that their children are not getting involved in dangerous and anti-social behaviour. They should know where their children are and what they are doing at all times."

ENDS