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Boy treated after catching fire | Boy treated after catching fire |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A teenager is being treated for serious burns after he caught fire at a row of derelict houses in north Belfast. | |
It is understood the 14-year-old had been in contact with petrol before the incident in Jamaica Street on Monday. He is in a stable condition. | |
Sinn Fein's Margaret McClenaghan said empty houses had been causing problems in the area and "need demolished". | |
The Housing Executive said in recent days its contractors had been threatened off the site. | |
It is understood they were threatened with petrol bombs. | |
The teenager is being treated at the Royal Victoria Hospital | The teenager is being treated at the Royal Victoria Hospital |
Police said they were alerted to a row of up to five derelict houses on fire at Jamaica Street at around 1700 BST on Monday. | Police said they were alerted to a row of up to five derelict houses on fire at Jamaica Street at around 1700 BST on Monday. |
A PSNI spokesman added that he believed the fire "was started maliciously". | A PSNI spokesman added that he believed the fire "was started maliciously". |
Ms McClenaghan said the houses were an "adventure playground". | Ms McClenaghan said the houses were an "adventure playground". |
"Whatever happened, this young lad has ended up with burns to his arms, his legs, his face, and he's a very lucky wee boy," she said. | "Whatever happened, this young lad has ended up with burns to his arms, his legs, his face, and he's a very lucky wee boy," she said. |
The Housing Executive, which owns the derelict houses, said: "We are working closely with NIE to have the electricity supply disconnected as a matter of urgency and will demolish the houses immediately this is done. | The Housing Executive, which owns the derelict houses, said: "We are working closely with NIE to have the electricity supply disconnected as a matter of urgency and will demolish the houses immediately this is done. |
"In the interim, each individual house had been fully secured as soon as the tenant moved out and the properties have been checked on a daily basis following ongoing vandalism in this area." | "In the interim, each individual house had been fully secured as soon as the tenant moved out and the properties have been checked on a daily basis following ongoing vandalism in this area." |