Louth Fianna Fáil election candidate Alison Comyn is calling on Louth County Council to make safe a wall in a northside Drogheda estate, after a resident suffered €40,000 worth of equipment in a suspected arson attack on his van.
Ms Comyn has asked for spikes or other security measures to be erected on the wall dividing Fountain Hill, Mell and Boice Court, after musician Sherin Mathew’s van was set on fire in the early hours of this morning, which he suspects was youths who persistently climb over the dividing wall.
“Sherin contacted me after he almost lost his livelihood, when the van containing all his sound equipment from work was destroyed in a blaze on September 29th,” says Comyn. “His house is directly beside the wall, which he says youths constantly climb over and cause anti-social behaviour in the cul de sac.”
Sherin and his family have lived in Fountain Hill for nine years, he runs a small company called Soul Beats, which provides musical entertainment for events primarily for the local Indian community.
All his sound equipment was lost when the van was mysteriously burned out at 3.30am, and whilst the insurance covered the loss of the van, the equipment cannot be replaced.
“I usually bring my equipment in but I was home so late that night, I left it and woke up to the van completely on fire, and all my lighting, sound and music equipment was destroyed, and now I’ve had to rent equipment to stay working,” said Sherin, who is a husband, and dad to three children.
“Teenagers are constantly climbing over the wall beside us, and if spikes or glass or something was put on top, it would stop them climbing over and causing antisocial behaviour.
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“The residents used to hold summer gatherings in that corner but sadly not anymore.”
Gardai are still investigating the mystery fire to the 2015 van, which Sherin says was in perfect working order.
“This is a hard-working man who is now struggling to keep his livelihood after this attack, and I’m calling on Louth County Council to prevent something like this from happening again,” added Comyn.
Mr. Sherin says he will not be defeated by this incident and after renting equipment, has his Soul Beats show back on the road.
