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Youth hostel tour bus burnt out | Youth hostel tour bus burnt out |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A tourist bus has been burnt out in south Belfast. | A tourist bus has been burnt out in south Belfast. |
It was the second attack within two weeks in the area on tour firm Paddywagon's distinctive green buses. | |
The bus was parked outside the Paddy's Palace youth hostel on Fitzwilliam Street in the university area. The fire was reported late on Friday evening. | The bus was parked outside the Paddy's Palace youth hostel on Fitzwilliam Street in the university area. The fire was reported late on Friday evening. |
Marketing manager Steve McPhelimy said: "We are getting nervous about bringing tourists to Belfast because we can't afford to take another hit like this." | |
The company said the two attacks had cost them more than £60,000. | |
The bus had been carrying 14 American and Australian tourists on a weekend trip to Belfast and Londonderry. | |
The company has headquarters in Belfast and Dublin, and has been operating in Northern Ireland for more than 10 years. | |
Mr McPhelimy said he believed local vandals had set the bus alight. | |
He said loyalist representatives had assured him that they "support anyone bringing tourists into south Belfast". | |
"Every attack costs us £30,000 because the insurance company doesn't cover the full cost of the bus," he added. |