Great Britain
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St Benedict's Abbey in Dumfries is priceless

Businessman Billy Hewitson describes the horrors of the fire at the former St. Benedict Abbey.

But he insisted that the fire-ravaged ruins would never be left alone.

Mr. Hewitson (left) owns the property and plans to build a luxury flat and affordable housing on the site. He also said an international school has been set up but is now abandoned after last week's fire. Hewitson spoke for the first time about the extensive damage to the town's iconic building.

And he swore:

``It's terrible... Hell. We know the extent of the damage, we don't know where it started, but we know how it started.

"Once you have the report, you can evaluate your options. I'll tell you."

The former monastery was plagued with vandalism for months. Gangsters regularly broke in, using ladders to scale barbed wire defenses and power tools to break into buildings and break windows to wreak havoc. Staging a drink fuel party.

Hewitson added:

``It's such a shame that vandalism destroyed the place and then burned it down..It's irreplaceable.

"250 students will be coming to Dumfries with their families, and we have partnered with the university." It was all great, but I doubt they would continue because of the history of the building that was an attraction.

"Dumfries anywhere A new school could be built, but the attraction was the building itself.”

Mr. Hewitson said of future plans:

``If we could get the Scottish government to buy it, we would not only be able to continue building affordable housing.

``In the end, I don't know how insurance will work.

``I can't guess who they are, but I'll work with them, whatever it is.

``It was a conspicuous building.''