Man doused in heating oil during arson attack of home in North

A small village on the Co Antrim coast has been left “traumatised” after masked men broke into a house threatening the owner before dousing him, the house and his car with heating oil and setting them ablaze.

The victim, said to be well-respected in Carnlough, was taken to hospital to be treated after the “shocking” ordeal at about 7pm on Sunday.

The family man was in the roofspace of his home on the Whitehill Road retrieving a number of items when he noticed two masked men in his hallway and another masked man on the stairs.

One of the men then demanded money from the victim, according to Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Det Sgt Crothers.

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“During this time heating oil was dispersed around the property and a vehicle which was parked outside and both were set alight,” he said.

“One of the suspects then threatened the victim before dousing his trousers with the accelerant.”

It is understood the victim was being treated in hospital for shock and that his home and Range Rover, parked outside, have been extensively damaged in the attack.

The suspects made off in the direction of Whitehill Road.

“One of the suspects is described as being over 6ft tall and of stocky build with green eyes,” said Det Sgt Crothers.

“The second suspect is described as being around 30-years-old. The third is described as around 5ft 8in tall and of a thin build.”

Carnlough Sinn Fein councillor Jame McKeown said the village was in shock.

“I know the victim to see,” he said.

“He’s a well respected man in the community. This is an awful thing for him and his family to have to go through. It’s certainly an unwelcome incident to happen in the village.

“I was coming home last night and saw the ambulance outside his house.

“Carnlough is a very quiet, rural wee place. The village is in a state of shock that something like this would happen here. It’s not the sort of thing that would happen very often around here.

“People are shocked and traumatised.”

Det Sgt Crothers said enquiries are ongoing and he appealed for anyone who was in the area at the time and saw any suspicious activity, and in particular anyone who may have any dash-cam or other footage, to contact the PSNI.