COVID Fines For ‘Ghost Hunters’ Found In Historic Inverclyde Building At 2am

A GROUP of people who met for a ‘ghost-hunting experience’ in Kilmacolm in the middle of the night were fined for breaching pandemic rules.

Police found eight people at derelict Balrossie School around 2am on Monday. The group had travelled in three cars from five different households all from outwith Inverclyde.

Sergeant Jason Logsdon said: “They had gathered for the purposes of a ghost-hunting experience due to it being a derelict building.

“As a result, all were issued fixed penalty notices for breaching covid regulations and a female was arrested on outstanding apprehension warrant.”

Inverclyde area commander Chief Inspector Paul Cameron said: “This was an irresponsible and dangerous act which could have resulted in harm or injury to those involved and also placed emergency services in danger when responding.

“We are urging the public to stay out of derelict buildings as they are in a poor state of repair and can pose a significant safety risk.”

B-listed Balrossie, in Blacksholm Road, was built in the late 19th century as an orphanage by the Sailors’ Orphans Society of Scotland and was later used as residential school. It has been vacant for around 20 years.

The site is currently on the market for £3milllion. Planning permission was given for a major residential development at the property in 2018.

Police in Inverclyde previously fined a group of urban explorers who met at a building in Port Glasgow in breach of lockdown rules.