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Antrim Arms hotel fire was arson, say police

BBC The Antrim Arms Hotel, a white building. Antrim Arms is written in red letters above the door. There are bollards and a fence in front of it.BBC
The aftermath of the fire at the former Antrim Arms hotel in Ballycastle town centre

A fire at the former Antrim Arms hotel in Ballycastle is being treated as deliberate, police have said.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said it was reported to them shortly after 20:00 BST on Sunday.

At the height of the blaze, 42 firefighters, two aerial appliances and a command support unit were at the scene.

Officers attended and closed a number of streets in the area while the fire service extinguished the blaze All the streets have since reopened.

Two firefighters aiming water from a hose onto the roof of the building.
At the height of the blaze, 42 firefighters were at the scene

Cordons were put in place around the building more than a year ago by the council over fears about its structural integrity.

An application to demolish the property, which dates back to the 1700s, was refused last year.

Sian Mulholland standing in front of the scene looking at the camera. She is wearing a pink top and fleece and round glasses. Her hair is tied back. In the background, there are small crowds of people standing in the street.
Alliance MLA Sian Mulholland urged people gathering to watch the fire to go home

Local Alliance MLA Sian Mulholland said everyone in the town wants to see the building renovated and made structurally safe after the fire.

"The roof is completely caved in along the back of the wall and it just brings in other fears and further concerns about the structural integrity and safety of the building," she added.

A view of the side of the Antrim Arms Hotel, a white building in a town. Blue storage containers are blocking it off as are bollards and a fence in front of it.
It is thought that the roof at the back of the building has caved in

Local Sinn Féin councillor Cara McShane said on Sunday she was "deeply concerned by the devastating fire".

"My immediate thoughts are with local residents and businesses who will be affected by this incident."

The PSNI have asked for anyone with information to contact them.