Blackout thieves action condemned

Opportunist thieves who broke into a school in Londonderry during a city-wide blackout have been criticised by SDLP councillor, Mark H Durkan.

The Derry City councillor said the robbery "smacks of opportunism".

"It was carried out at a time when the electricity was off across the city, rendering the school's security alarms and cameras useless."

Thousands of pounds worth of equipment was stolen during the blackout which affected 40,000 homes and businesses.

Councillor Durkan said that those responsible for the break in had "perpetrated an attack on the whole community."

"I have spoken to the principal of St Cecilia's and while she is upset at the incident, she is relieved that the scale of the vandalism carried out was not much bigger.

Customers in Derry and many of surrounding areas were without power from about 1640 GMT on Saturday during the power cut.

A NIE spokesperson said the supply was restored to the last of its customers at about 1900 GMT on Saturday.

An investigation is ongoing into a possible fault which caused the power cut, the spokesperson added.

Meanwhile the Waterside Health Centre is urging patients to contact it by telephone in emergencies only as the power cut knocked out its phone system.