Family devastated as 'fairy tale' new home torched in case of mistaken identity

A family who dreamt of owning their own home have been left devastated after their new home was targeted in an arson attack which police believe is a case of mistaken identity hours after they collected their keys.

Emergency services were called to the premises at the Dermont Way area of Newtownabbey shortly after 12.05am on Friday, November 22. It was reported that liquid was poured through the letterbox of a home and set alight, with damage caused to the property. No one was inside at the time.

The family, who did not wish to be named, told Belfast Live that they had collected the keys of their property on Thursday and had returned to the property on Friday to find the street cordoned off and their new home wrecked following the blaze. The new owner of the property said that she hopes whomever targeted the house realises that her family are not the people they think they are targeting.

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"We picked our keys up at three o'clock on Thursday and we've been renting for 14 years. It was just the most absolutely perfect house we've ever seen," she said.

"We got the keys and brought both sets of our parents and our kids, who we had kept it a surprise from, to see the house.

"It was literally like the stuff of fairy tales. Everyone was saying that we really deserve this as we had a cancer scare a few weeks back with my son and we have just been through so much. The kids were over the moon."

The victim said that it was just by "sheer luck" that the weather was bad and they decided to go back to their rented accommodation for the night. Otherwise, her family could have been in the house at the time of the blaze.

"When we left at a quarter past nine, we were like, well, we're not coming back up tonight because the snow was so bad.

"It was just by pure fluke because if the weather hadn't have been bad we would have been up and down all night with the excitement of moving into the new house."

On Friday morning, she and her husband sent their kids to school before they made their way to the house which she described as "like a scene from a movie."

"There was police, there was tape, and we kind of were like, What the hell is going on? At first I thought there had been a gas leak and then I got out of the car and I was really upset and I just couldn't believe it."

"My husband spotted a jerry can and asked the police if it was petrol. They said yeah and that it had been the target of arson. I just couldn't believe it.

"Later when we spoke to the detective, he said that we didn't need to worry as the police knew we weren't the intended target.

"It was just by sheer fluke that we didn't stay there that night as the house is totally unlivable now and we were meant to be handing the keys of our rental property back on Monday."

Following the incident, their landlord has agreed to let them continue to stay on in their rental property for the foreseeable future but the family are now worried about how they are going to pay both their rent and the mortgage on their new home.

"It is a three storey house and right up to the top floor is just pure black. There is no front door and the hallway is completely black. We don't have an option of whether we want to go back or not. We have just bought the house and we have to go back."

Detective Sergeant Crothers said: “Shortly after 00:05am on Friday 22nd November, it was reported to police that a liquid was poured through the letterbox of a property and set alight. Damage was caused to the front door, hallway and kitchen area following the incident. No one was inside the property.

"Enquiries are continuing and detectives are investigating the possibility this may have been a case of mistaken identity. The investigation remains at an early stage.

“Police would appeal to anyone with any information to contact them on 101, quoting reference number 6 22/11/24. Alternatively, information can also be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 which is 100% anonymous and gives people the power to speak up and stop crime.”

A GoFundMe has been set up to assist the family. To donate, click here.

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