Blaze at former mental health hospital '˜under control'

An investigation is expected to get under way after a fire was brought under control at Derry's former Stradreagh mental health hospital.

The Western Health and Social Care Trust have now confirmed that the fire was discovered on Tuesday morning at the Gennelly and Denett Building on the elevated Stradreagh Hospital site, close to Oakgrove Integrated College.

PSNI officers were this morning stationed at the entrance of the road leading to the site, with only emergency vehicular access being granted, while numerous Fire & Rescue vehicles could be seen in the vicinity.

A spokeswoman for the Western Trust, which owns the site, said: “The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service were in attendance and have brought the fire under control.

“The building has been unoccupied for a number of years, but was boarded up.

“How the fire was started is currently unclear, however The Trust will work with the NIFRS with in their investigations.”

She added: “The Trust can confirm there is no impact on patient or client services.”

A Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) spokesperson meanwhile earlier today said: “We received a call this morning at 7.19am to attend a fire at an unoccupied building within the grounds of the disused Stradreagh Hospital site, Gransha Park.

“Six appliances, an aerial specialist appliance and a Command Support Unit along with 44 Firefighters are currently dealing with a well-developed fire.

“The incident is ongoing and there are no further details at this stage”.