M(urder)ar(son)gate

I see the cops have spoken out yet again to deny any connection between the shocking murder of David O'Leary earlier this year and the dreadful arson attack on Tivoli Arcade eight weeks later.

In today's excellent yourfannit newspaper (available free in the corner of all your favourite local stores, usually behind the twelve boxes of Haribo etc.) police Superintendent Chris Hogben dismissed the rampant speculation in the town, saying: 'I cannot stress too strongly that the investigations have so far shown no connection between these offences.'

Coincidentally I recently received the following anonymous email in response to a previous post about the Margate rumour mill being in overdrive:

I just read your post about the Tivoli, I know you are saying what people are thinking, but the media did actually f*ck it right up, reporting that petrol was sprayed over the machines. I can confirm this is untrue, it was a device that was left by the two spineless morons who put it there, with no thought to the school kids who were in there. Also I can confirm they didn't leave by the back doors as there aren't any (just a 20 ft drop into the back alley if they dug through a brick wall!). Police are satisfied that the Tivoli and indeed DV8 have no connection with the killing of Mr. O'Leary and as such the arson is not a result of it. These allegations have damaged the reputation to the club and to a certain extent the business too, we have sent out letters to the local press, hopefully some sort of retraction will occur, possibly too late!

As I said, you are one person saying what's on many peoples lips, and I respect your opinions, it is entirely up to you how you use this information I have provided, if at all, but I am trying to get the message out to people.

Which seems to confirm the police denial of any link. And at this point I'm going to get all public service on your ass and say that if you have any information about either of these horrendous crimes, please phone Margate Police Station on 01843 222076 or Kent Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Click here to read police denial of crime link in yourfannit

Margate Blighted By 'Surf 'n' Turf Wars'?

Bit of a gear change, as we say in the trade, but rumours are rife over on the seedy north side of the island that last week's arson attack on the Tivoli Arcade was not a random occurrence.

Her Majesty's Rozzers have confirmed that two men were seen dowsing the seafront slot palace with petrol, before setting fire to it and scarpering in a blue, D-reg Volvo, which was later found burnt out a few hundred yards away in Grosvenor Place. Ten people who were in the arcade at the time escaped with their lives, and £500,000 worth of damage was caused to gaming machines.

According to today's Thanet Times, the arcade is owned by the same firm that runs the DV8 nightclub next door. And we know that David O'Leary, the businessman who was shot dead at his home in Lydden, just outside Margate, eight weeks ago was 'known to the police' and had been involved in an altercation at DV8 that very evening. Now the local Morses are putting two and two together and coming up with 'turf wars'. Or, according to another suggestion, it could even be 'Turk wars', as rival Turkish gangs slug it out over the Margate seafront patch.

Of course, there's nothing to substantiate any of this wild speculation, and the cops have specifically denied making any link between the O'Leary shooting and the Tivoli fire. But I can't help feeling that the biggest loser in all this is poor old Margate. Already on its knees, it surely doesn't deserve to be shot in the back of the head. Then set fire to. Then pissed on to put it out. Does it?

Arcade Flames

As promised, photos of the Tivoli arcade conflagration on Margate front late this afternoon. Well, er, not so much a conflagration as a small bonfire judging by these shots. According to my eyewitness damage was pretty limited. There were, however, rumours circulating that someone had entered the building and thrown some sort of firebomb down on the floor. Charming.




Update: Kent Police have now confirmed this was an arson attack, and are looking for two men seen escaping in a blue, D-reg Volvo which was later found burnt out in Grosvenor Place. Ten people were in the arcade at the time, and £0.5m worth of damage was caused to slot machines. Click here for more details on Kent Police website.

For latest story click here.

Margate's Burning (Again)

Unholy smoke! Just had a call from one of my chums in the Arsonists' Playground to say that the front's on fire again. Apparently four pumps and a turntable have been in attendance for the last half an hour or so.

This time it's the Tivoli arcade, which has been closed for a few months. Yes, well, er, that seems to be the usual pattern of things around here. Should have some piccies for you later.

Update: Kent Online are now reporting 10 pumps and 60 firefighters, but despite initial reports of people trapped no-one found inside and the blaze is now out.

Dome Truths

Mozying along the front yesterday evening in a bid to catch the last rays of the sun, I was overcome by an irresistible urge to have a flutter. And not wishing to go home and change into my DJ, I spurned our Casino Royale in favour of one of those slot palaces so beloved of the local pit bull tugging, track suit brigade.

Suitably armed with a couple of bags of two pence pieces (tuppenny bits in old money), I headed for one of those attractions where you have to judge the right moment to deposit your hard-earned dosh so that it pushes great piles of copper out of the machine. I was doing rather well, until I heard a distinctly non-metallic thud emanate from the pay-out drawer.

It seems I was now the, er, proud owner of a Millennium Dome souvenir eraser, complete with the slogan 'There's No Place Like Dome' on the reverse. I wonder what my old showbiz chum and antiques supremo Michael Aspel would make of that?