Man arrested by police following explosion

Rodney Edwards • Published 18 Feb 2010 10:39 0 Comments

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The house on the Derrygonnelly Road from Enniskillen, scene of an explosion.

POLICE have arrested a man following a suspicious explosion at a house in Enniskillen.

The man, Simon Bermingham, believed to have been the occupant of the house, was arrested on Monday and released the same day pending further enquiries

Early on Friday morning an anonymous male caller telephoned the offices of The Impartial Reporter, saying there was a "drug factory" at the house.

An unsuccessful attempt was subsequently made by a third party to get the Fire and Rescue Service to the house.

Then on Friday night at around 11pm, a loud blast ripped through the secluded bungalow on the Derrygonnelly Road.

As our dramatic picture shows, part of the building's roof was blown off, along with the windows and part of the front door. Glass was showered across the ground, along with pieces of timber joists, bricks and roof tiles. Nobody was at home at the time.

Police forensic experts have examined the scene and have so far ruled out any paramilitary involvement. It's believed they are investigating that inflammable vapour, such as petrol fumes, may have caused the blast.

Meanwhile the landlord of the property, Malcolm Cathcart, was shocked to find his house badly damaged.

"It was Saturday morning when the police informed me about it. I head the explosion. It was a loud bang, a really loud bang. I only live 200 metres away from it and didn't know what it was to be honest. I couldn't believe the state it was in when I got there. It's not something you're used to. Maybe years ago during the troubles but not these days. I spent a lot of money doing it up and so on. It was a big shock to find it in the way I did," he said.

Police say enquiries into the incident are ongoing.

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 18 Feb 10

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