A community fundraiser has raised more than £1,800 after a man’s workshop – storing valuables dating back 40 years – was burnt down in a suspected fire-raising attack.
Jim McFadden returned from a fishing holiday to find that his shed, which he used as a workshop, had been torched during the early hours of Thursday September 21.
The building was situated among a block of four houses and there was also significant damage to a neighbouring property.
Jim’s son, Joe McFadden, set up a fundraiser following the incident, and at the time of writing had raised £1,213 to help his father replace the items destroyed.
Joe said: “My dad had his shed intentionally burnt to the ground in the early hours of Thursday morning.
“The entire building next to it where he and his neighbours live also nearly burnt down and was significantly damaged. This was an unprovoked act of violence which has left us all a bit shocked.
“His shed wasn’t large, just a regular garden shed but significant all the same to him. His tools, being his most valued possessions and his livelihood, were all lost in the fire.
“We are asking for the help of our community to put towards the cost of a new shed and replacing what belongings we can.”
Salen has a population of around 500 residents and locals quickly rallied round, donating to the fundraiser and showing up at Mr McFadden’s door.
Jim told the Oban Times: “The support I’ve received from the local community has been overwhelming. I’ve even had people come to the door with offers of cash and food.
“It’s been upsetting because this is an attack on the village as a whole, and it’s a great wee community here that always rallies round. There’s a large elderly population and people are on edge and feeling scared because of this.
“I would like anyone with any information to contact Crimestoppers – if there hadn’t been torrential rain that night it could have been a lot worse.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 4.15am on Thursday September 21, police were alerted to a report of a fire at a property in Salen, the Isle of Mull.
“Emergency services attended. No one was injured and enquiries are ongoing to establish the cause of the fire.”
You can donate to fundraiser at www.gofundme.com/f/jims-shed