Garvagh showroom owner ‘heartbroken’ after suspected arson attack

Carhill Cars in Garvagh

The owner of a County Londonderry car showroom destroyed in a suspected arson attack has described the devastation caused to his business as “gut-wrenching”, saying the premises now need to be completely demolished and rebuilt.

Liam Rafferty, owner of Carhill Cars in Garvagh, said he was left “heartbroken” after fire ripped through the business in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Despite the scale of the destruction, he said he was thankful nobody was injured and vowed the business would continue operating.

The blaze at the Carhill Road premises triggered a major emergency response involving 55 firefighters from across the region after Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service received reports of the incident shortly after 4.30am.

Owner describes destruction left behind

Speaking to BBC News following the fire, Mr Rafferty said the speed at which the blaze spread was shocking.

“The blaze took hold so fast it was crazy,” he said.

“We were lucky we only lost one car, and at the end of the day nobody was hurt.”

However, he said the building itself has been completely destroyed.

“The beams are all warped, the walls are about to fall, it just needs to be completely knocked down and started all over again.”

Images from the scene showed extensive fire damage across the site after flames engulfed the showroom and adjoining premises before dawn.

Mr Rafferty said the incident would not stop the business moving forward.

“It’s horrible, but it’s not the end of the world. The business will keep on going, we’re very resilient,” he added.

55 firefighters tackled major blaze

Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service said crews arriving at the scene encountered a developed fire involving a car showroom, vehicles and café premises.

At the height of the operation, 55 firefighters were involved in tackling the blaze.

Six fire appliances attended from Maghera, Kilrea, Dungiven, Ballymoney and Coleraine stations, supported by:

• An aerial ladder appliance from Northland Station

• A Command Support Unit from Strabane Station

• A water tanker from Dungiven Station

Firefighters used multiple firefighting jets and an aerial ladder jet to bring the fire under control.

The incident was resolved by 7.47am.

Police treating fire as arson

Police have confirmed the blaze is being treated as arson and enquiries are ongoing.

Sergeant Moore said:

“At approximately 5am, we received a report of a fire at a business in the Carhill Road area.

“Officers attended, along with colleagues from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, who extinguished the blaze.

“This is being treated as arson and enquiries are ongoing.

“I am appealing to anyone who may have witnessed anyone suspicious in the area or to anyone with CCTV, doorbell or other footage that could assist the investigation, to contact police on 101, quoting reference number 146 13/05/26.”

Police are urging anyone with information to come forward as detectives continue investigations into the cause of the fire.

Alternatively, reports can also be submitted online using the PSNI non-emergency reporting form at http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/.

The fire has sent shockwaves through the local business community in Garvagh, with the destruction highlighting both the financial and emotional toll such incidents can have on small independent businesses.