Five escape 'deliberate' house blaze

Two women and three children escaped from a house fire in West Belfast today.

The blaze at Whitecliff Parade, Ballymurphy, was started deliberately, experts believe.

Detectives are examining a possible link to a bitter feud between two families in the area that has left one man dead.

Fire crews were called to the scene just after 1.30am and found the property well alight.

The women and three girls, two aged 14 and one nine-year-old, had already managed to get out of the burning house.

Four fled through a back door while one woman had to jump from a first floor rear window.

They were all treated for smoke inhalation, while a man in a neighbouring house suffered a suspected heart attack that later turned out to be extreme anxiety brought on by the emergency.

Tensions have been running high since father-of-five Gerard Devlin was murdered last month. He was stabbed to death as he picked up his children in Whitecliff Parade.

The Fire Service’s assistant group commander Paul Stobo confirmed that the blaze appeared to have been malicious.

He said: “Given the current situation within the area the early indications are this was a deliberate fire.”

Detectives have urged anyone who witnessed suspicious activity at the scene to contact police at Grosvenor Road station.