GARDAÍ IN Co Waterford have arrested two men for questioning in
connection with a break-in and arson attack which caused an estimated
€300,000 to €400,000 worth of damage to a historic Catholic church near
Dungarvan.
Supt Tom O’Grady of Dungarvan said one man in his early
30s and another in his late 30s were held yesterday for questioning
about the break-in and fire at St Laurence’s Church, Ballinroad, Clonea
Road, on New Year’s Day.
The two men were arrested separately and
brought to Dungarvan Garda Station where they were detained for
questioning under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.
Investigating
gardaí believe the blaze broke out on Saturday after intruders smashed a
stained-glass window at the side of the church to gain entry to the
building which they intended to rob.
They then started a fire which
extensively damaged the sacristy.
The alarm was raised shortly
after 9pm and five units of Waterford County Fire Service brought the
fire under control within 40 minutes and prevented it from spreading to
the church proper.
A Garda technical team carried out a forensic
examination of the scene yesterday which confirmed suspicions that the
fire was started following a forced entry.
Local historian Tom
Keith, who lives across the road from the church, said the local
community was shocked when they learned of the fire and the possibility
that it may have been started deliberately.
“Because it happened
relatively late on New Year’s Day, a lot of people didn’t learn about
the fire until they turned up for 10 o’clock Mass today and were
confronted with blue-and-white Garda tape telling them that it was a
crime scene,” said Mr Keith.
“People were devastated and very
disappointed and they would be even more disappointed to learn that it
was malicious.”
He added that it was due to a combination of good
fortune and excellent work by the fire service which saved the body of
the church.
“The sacristy . . . was completely destroyed but
fortunately, there was a solid wall running from floor to roof at the
back of the altar which prevented it from spreading into the main body
of the church.
“The fire brigade did a fine job,” Mr Keith added.
“They brought the blaze under control within 40 minutes, stripping the
roof off the sacristy to prevent the fire creeping back along the
rafters into the main body of the church which escaped with just smoke
damage and some water damage.”
One of three churches in the
Abbeyside parish, which covers Dungarvan and its hinterland, St
Laurence’s was built in 1804 when there was a relaxation of the Penal
Laws.
It is the second oldest church in the diocese of Waterford and
Lismore.
SIC: IT/IE