Suspicious fire at home of Fintry anti-drugs campaigner

An inquiry is under way into a suspicious fire at the home of a Dundee anti-drugs campaigner.

Ian Connelly (53) and his dog had to be led to safety by firefighters from his smoke-filled house on Finavon Terrace, Fintry, after neighbours raised the alarm at 4am on Thursday.

The blaze caused serious damage to the living room.

A police spokeswoman said: ”Tayside Police can confirm that, following the conclusion of the joint investigation, the fire at a house in Dundee’s Finavon Terrace this morning is being treated as suspicious.

”The fire was quickly extinguished and the occupier was assisted from the building, fortunately uninjured. However, the consequences could have been far worse.”

Mr Connelly has been campaigning against drugs in his community since his 23-year-old son Liam died in 2010 after walking into the path of a lorry on Forfar Road while under the influence of the substance known as bubbles.

This has seen him knocking on the doors of local dealers and begging them to stop selling drugs.

Anyone with information on the fire is asked to contact Tayside Police on 0300 1112222.