Ulster Unionist Economy spokesperson Sandra Overend MLA has condemned an arson attack which took place in Belfast city centre on Thursday night in which a hire car belonging to a group of visiting business people was destroyed.
Sandra said:
“I was shocked to learn that a car belonging to visiting businessmen from Germany and the USA was set alight near Belfast city centre on Thursday night.
This is absolutely the last thing which Northern Ireland needs as we seek to attract inward investment and also boost the local tourist and hospitality industries.
Northern Ireland has long had a reputation for being a welcoming and hospitable place to visitors, and one of the many positives of last week’s G8 summit was the number of people who remarked on the warmth of local people.
Thanks to the actions of a mindless thug, this business delegation has been left with a very negative perception of Northern Ireland as a place in which to invest or visit as a holiday destination. None of this will mean anything to whoever was responsible for setting the car alight, but it matters to the vast majority of people in this country who want to create a society in which we can all live peacefully together and build a thriving economy both now and in the future.
The actions of a mindless few cannot be allowed to thwart the will of the majority and I would urge anyone who can assist the Police to catch whoever was responsible for this incident, to please come forward immediately.”