PSNI probing hen house fire which is 'third attack' at Co Down property

Police are investigating following a fire at a hen house in Co Down.

The PSNI says it is the "third recent attack of a similar nature on the property" in Cabra near Kilcoo.

It was reported the building on the Letalian Road was set alight during the early hours of Sunday morning, November 10.

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Posting on Facebook, NI model Kate Grant said: "Omg how cruel can some people be. For the third time, someone has burnt my family farm two hen houses in a month. I’m so so upset. Thank goodness the hens were gone. I can’t cope with this. Please SHARE and hopefully catch these horrible people."

A PSNI statement following the fire on Sunday said: "Officers attended alongside colleagues from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service who extinguished the blaze. The report is being treated as arson. This is the third recent attack of a similar nature on the property - extensive damage has been caused on each occasion.

"Enquiries are ongoing to determine a motive and who was involved. Anyone with information about what happened is asked to contact police on 101, quoting reference number 430 10/11/24."

The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service were called to the scene on Sunday 10 November 2024 at 2:41am. Two appliances from Rathfriland Fire Station and one appliance from Newcastle Fire Station attended the incident.

A statement said: "Firefighters were called to reports of a hen house on fire on the Letalian Road, Cabra, Rathfriland, Down. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used 1 hose reel to extinguish the fire.

"The cause of the fire is believed to have been deliberate ignition and the incident was dealt with by 5:14am."

The independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/. Alternatively you can provide information to us directly by submitting a report online via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/.

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