Arsonists rob grieving mum of mementoes

In tears grieving mother Barbara Williamson spoke of her anguish that all her treasured mementoes of her dead son Marc have been torched.
By The Newsroom
Published 6th Apr 2016, 16:31 BST
Updated 6th Apr 2016, 17:41 BST
Barbara Williamson outside her burnt out home in RichhillBarbara Williamson outside her burnt out home in Richhill
Barbara Williamson outside her burnt out home in Richhill

It took just minutes before her home in Richhill was completely destroyed by arsonists.

Barbara was at her Elm Park home with her husband Cecil (65) and son Robert David (30). She explained: “My son was up at 5am to go to work. It was his day off but he was doing overtime. He was in the bathroom cleaning his teeth and we heard a bang. I looked out and his car was on fire.

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“We tried to put the fire out but then came back into the house. Whoever did it put petrol over the bonnet and set it on fire. They must have pushed the car up against the back door.”

Barbara Williamson outside her burnt out home in RichhillBarbara Williamson outside her burnt out home in Richhill
Barbara Williamson outside her burnt out home in Richhill

She revealed that they had managed to escape through the front door.

“I haven’t got over it yet,” said Barbara, who added she was still in shock.

“Richhill has been my home since I was 13 years of age,” said Barbara, who is now aged 65.

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She said she has nothing left from her home. “Nothing, not a thing. Everything is gutted.

Barbara Williamson outside her burnt out home in RichhillBarbara Williamson outside her burnt out home in Richhill
Barbara Williamson outside her burnt out home in Richhill

“They did a good job, so they did,” she said.

When asked if she was afraid after the arson attack, she replied: “I am just numb. It hasn’t sunk in I don’t think.”

Asked what she and her family is going to do, she explained that local councillor Jim Speers had helped her with the NI Housing Executive to get her a house in Armagh.

But it is not just about her belongings.

Her son Marc was stabbed to death in 2011 and she has kept many of his belongings to keep him close to her.

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“My son was killed five years ago in August coming and there was a lot of things belonging to him in there. Photographs and things belonging to him and they have destroyed his stuff too. All the memories destroyed.

“All our clothes everything is gone,” she said.

“They know I know who did it,” she said.