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Wed, 11 Mar 2026

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 Home of family with newborn 'a biohazard' after oil theft as prices spiral

"Absolute travesty" for family targeted by thieves, as oil price rises - and reports of price gouging - prompt watchdog to act.
A couple with a newborn baby has been forced out of their home after thieves stole heating oil, causing a massive biohazard that's making it uninhabitable. Gareth Kelly and Aimee Leigh Brolly had to leave their Limavady home immediately due to strong petrol fumes from the spill, which will take months to clean up. The couple has ongoing medical conditions, with Aimee Leigh recently released from hospital and Gareth having a kidney transplant. Their 10-day-old son is now at risk of not having a stable place to live. Police are investigating the theft and appealing for information. Industry data suggests that nearly two-thirds of Northern Irish homes rely on heating oil, which has seen prices more than double due to the US attack on Iran. The heating oil sector is unregulated, leaving customers vulnerable to price hikes. The UK's competition watchdog is investigating reports of possible price gouging. The couple described the situation as "an absolute travesty" and emphasized that the thieves have not only stolen oil but also taken away their home and stability. Aimee Leigh said: "They've impacted our lives massively, they think they've just stolen a bit of oil, they've changed everything." The family is now facing uncertainty about where to live and how to afford heating in the future. A local resident reported that there was a significant price spike in the Causeway Coast and Glens area, from £285 to £509. In response to the crisis, Northern Ireland's MPs met with the Treasury to discuss possible measures to protect consumers from price manipulation. The UK's competition watchdog is engaging with suppliers to investigate consumer protection law concerns.