A parishioner of St Michael’s Church in Denmark Street in Limerick city said the woman, aged in her 20s, entered “God’s House when it was deserted after morning Mass”.
“There is a beautiful crib in front of the altar with figures of the Nativity around a manger, straw on the floor and pallets to resemble the stable. The woman lit around 20 of the little church candles. She then took one and lit the straw at the crib.
“Not only that, she took some of the straw from the crib, brought it to Our Lady of Lourdes grotto and set it alight there,” said the parishioner.
The Mass-goer said the sacristan Ken McNamara was working in the sacristy on January 9 when he noticed activity on CCTV.
“He ran out and managed to extinguish the fire at the crib and the grotto before it spread and took hold. Only for Ken the church could have been burnt to the ground. St Michael’s is one of the oldest churches in Limerick dating back to the 1780s,” said the parishioner.
Apart from burnt straw and some scorch marks on rocks in the grotto, the damage was kept to a minimum thanks to Mr McNamara. Canon Gerard Garrett, administrator of the pastoral area which includes St Michael’s, praised the sacristan.
“Ken is an exceptionally good person. He has a lovely way with people and a lovely way of deescalating situations. He’s a very good man and we’re very pleased with his performance,” said Canon Garrett. The female arsonist left the church afterwards but it is understood she was later apprehended by gardai, who tracked her movements on CCTV.
As well as the historic building, a unique golden statue on the bell tower of Michael the archangel, spear in hand standing upon a snarling dragon, would have been lost in a blaze.