'Veil of secrecy' around wildfire arsonists

As large wildfires continue to rage in the Mourne Mountains, the environment minister has rejected a claim there are no consequences for people who deliberately set fires in the countryside.

Andrew Muir said arsonists could face prison in some cases, but he added that the authorities need the public's help to bring them to justice.

"There does seem to be maybe a veil of secrecy around this, no-one is giving up the culprits who are involved," the minister said.

On Monday, a Mourne Mountain Rescue team co-ordinator said the challenge with recurring wildfires is that "there are no consequences" for those responsible.

Martin McMullan said the fires in the mountains at the weekend "definitely didn't look like they started from a recreational source".

"The areas where they started were almost inaccessible to the general public.

"This happens year after year... and there's no consequences for those that are undertaking these actions," McMullan said.

Muir said he had spoken to the Mourne Mountain Rescue team on Monday and shared the "concern that we're not getting cases into the criminal justice system".

Speaking on the BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme, Muir pointed out that rural arson offences already exist "which could result in custodial sentences".

However he argued that there needs to be a "step change in attitude around the acceptability of these offences".

"I am appealing to people today - if anyone is aware of anyone who has deliberately set malicious fires in the countryside - you must come forward and report whatever you know either to the police or anonymously to Crimestoppers.

"We need you to come forward so we can take those cases through the criminal justice system," the minister said.

Muir added that as well as putting a drain on firefighters' resources, wildfires were also endangering homes, businesses, communities and the environment.

Since the weekend, firefighters have been tackling wildfires in the Ballagh Road, Newcastle, and Sandbank Road, Hilltown, areas of Mourne Mountains.

On Monday the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) said its operations in the Mournes are expected to "continue across the week".

There have been about 95 firefighters in attendance at both incidents and the NIFRS had asked the public to avoid the area while the fires are dealt with.

A number of residents in the area were on standby to evacuate their homes.

Firefighters also responded to a number of other smaller wildfires in Belfast, Armagh, Lurgan and Rathfriland.

A wildfire action plan, published by the Department of Agriculture, Environment, and Rural Affairs (Daera) earlier this month, set out a coordinated response to what officials describe as a growing threat.

It includes dozens of measures aimed at improving resilience and reducing the frequency and severity of fires.

In a statement issued on Monday, Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Insp Paddy Heatley warned that deliberately starting a wildfire is a criminal offence, adding that, when identified, those responsible "can expect to be arrested and brought before court".

He said police gather all available evidence "to enable us to identify any action which would constitute a crime, and hold those responsible legally to account".