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 | | Friday, 25 January, 2002, 18:29 GMT Arsonists kill valuable pigeons  Mr Swindell surveys the damage A County Down pigeon breeder has spoken of his devastation after arsonists destroyed his business, burning alive hundreds of valuable birds. Paul Swindell, who has been breeding pigeons for almost three decades, was in England when he was told about the fire at his home near Newry. The police have confirmed it was started deliberately. Up to 800 pigeons - some mature birds and some just born - were burnt alive when a loft which Paul built himself was set on fire last Friday night. He said he had built up the best pigeon stud in Ireland. "I have people ringing me from Belgium, Holland, all over the world looking to buy these.
"I try to make really expensive pigeons priced for the working man and now they're burnt to death." The fire also destroyed a mobile home which Paul and his partner had been living in while their new bungalow on the Ballymore Road, between Loughbrickland and Newry, was being built. It contained trophies and mementos from his years in pigeon racing, which is big business. Mr Swindell recently turned down an offer of �46,000 for 40 of his prize racing pigeons. Two of his rare birds were valued at �10,000 each and he had already received money for birds he cannot now supply. He added: "I have to start now and send back their refunds. "A lot of the men in the sport have told me to keep the money, buy myself clothes to get on my feet and they'll support me because I've done a lot for the game." But Mr Swindell said he had no doubt the arsonists also came from within the pigeon fancying world. | |    See also: Internet links: The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites Top Northern Ireland stories now:  Links to more Northern Ireland stories are at the foot of the page. | |||||||||||||||||||
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