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.
