Torched Invercargill house belongs to Auckland lawyer

An Auckland lawyer has been identified as the unlucky owner of a Southland house caught up in a gang war.

ASB Bank solicitor Brian Garrity bought the Severn St, Invercargill, property online in mid-2006 without having seen it.

He was unaware the house stood next to a Mongrel Mob headquarters.

The building was torched on Saturday night, two days after the torching of the rival Road Knights gang headquarters in Balmoral Drive.

Mr Garrity found out about the fire on the Herald website on Sunday afternoon, and recognised the street mentioned in a story.

"I thought, 'Damn, I've got a property on that street'."

He left a message for his property manager to phone him back to let him know whether it was his house.

"Lo and behold, when he got back to me, it was."

Invercargill police said the house had no direct links to the Mongrel Mob.

Mr Garrity said he was aware there were "ongoing tenancy disputes", but he had no idea if the tenants had any association with the Mongrel Mob.

He was unaware of the full extent of the damage.

"I haven't been down to see it, so I'm not absolutely sure.

"I understand that if it wasn't for the concrete exterior it would have fallen completely apart."

Although the property is insured, he was not sure what he would do with it.

"Of course, with the gang pad out the back it certainly makes rebuilding the less-desirable option."