Council hopeful of summer swimming return

Swimming at a leisure centre, which was attacked and set on fire during violent disorder in June, is expected to return in the coming weeks.

Larne Leisure Centre was being used by families and children for swimming and sports classes when it was targeted by youths and set on fire on 11 June.

The previous night, the centre had been providing emergency shelter for families fleeing violence in nearby Ballymena, County Antrim.

Disorder had started earlier that week following a peaceful protest over an alleged sexual assault in Ballymena.

Prom Café, located at the leisure centre, reopened a few days after the fire.

But the leisure centre remained closed.

Mid and East Antrim Council said Larne Swim Club is continuing to use the pool for training, as reported in The Irish News.

“Plans are in place to fully reopen the pools for public use in the coming weeks,” it said, adding that exact dates are yet to be confirmed.

“In the meantime, arrangements are currently in place to facilitate the planned children’s summer scheme at Larne Grammar School,” it added.

The council said the damage caused by the unrest has “impacted everyone in the community, especially our young people as the schools break for the summer”.

“The council is working hard to reopen the centre as quickly as possible.”

BBC News NI understands it will take a number of months before the centre is fully reopened.

Speaking to BBC Radio Ulster’s Good Morning Ulster programme the day after the fire, Danny Donnelly MLA said a brick was thrown through a window of the leisure centre where a yoga class was being held and members had to flee for safety.

Donnelly said it quickly became violent and the windows of the leisure centre were “systematically being put in”.

He added that paint was thrown over fire doors and described it as a “sustained attack” on the building.

He said staff had to flee through the back door for their own safety.